Class \ '^ll^b. 

Book_ .IKS. 
Gopyrigliffl 0 



COFiRIGHT DEPOSH1 



ROSS' FAMOUS FIGHT WITH COMANCHE CHIEF, BIG FOOT 



Border Wars of Texas 



Being an Authentic and Popular Account, in Chronological 
Order, of the Long and Bitter Conflict waged Between 
Savage Indian Tribes and the Pioneer 
Settlers of Texas. 

Wresting of a Fair Land From Savage Rule 
A Red Record of Fierce Strife 

Profusely Illustrated with Spirited Battle Scenes l>y Spe- 
cial Artists. Rare Portraits of Famous Rangers, 
Indian Fighters and Pioneers, Maps, Etc. 



By 

JAMES T. DE SHIELDS 

Member Texas Historical Association 

Author of "Frontier Sketches," "Texas Border Tales," 
" Cynthia Ann Parker, the Story of Her Capture," "Life 
of Jack Hays." "Stephen Fuller Austin," "Sam Hous- 
ton and Texas," "Siege of the Alamo," Etc. 



MATT BRADLEY 
Revising Editor and Publisher. 



1912 

THE HERALD COMPANY 
TIOOA. TEXAS 



Copyrighted 1912 
By MATT BRADLEY, TIOGA, TEXAS 




©CU 3 3 0156 



DEDICATED 

TO 

The Sons and Daughters of Those Noble Pioneer 
Fathers and Mothers 

Who, boldly entering the savage-infested 
wilderness, battled so bravely for supremacy; 
and which finally obtaining, made possible all 
the glorious blessings that have followed. 
Dangers and hardships they endured, the in- 
estimable heritage bequeathed, we now enjoy. 
All honor to the pioneers of Texas, than whom 
there were none more courageous and in- 
domitable. 

THE AUTHOR. 



7 



I 



FOREWORD 



The present volume fa the progressed! efforts of the au- 
thor 's long cherished design to prepare a popular and reli- 
able narrative of border warfare and Tefxas frontier history, 
no satisfactory account in connected form having) ever be- 
fore appeared; indeed it is the first serious attempt in that 
direction, and the author 's purpose will have been accom- 
plished if it should prove of value and be handed down to 
posterity with increasing interest to each generation, which 
is but natural as we recede further and; further from that 
dark era of fearful strife so> long waged between the red 
men and; their white conquerors. 

Let the reader remember that this' work has been put 
forth and executed through great labor and painstaking re- 
search for data, and 1 a judicious sifting of the wheat from 
the chaff, that the story might comform toi truth, and) thus 
possess/ a positive value, a mine of historical wealth which 
will prove the most wholesome of mental pabulum ; though 
the story be ttoldi with lack of facilenessi; with more regard 
for exactness of statement than ornateness of style or 
grandiloquence. 

The complete story in all its thrilling details will never 
be told, from the' lack of reliable data audi because' of the 
vastness of such an undertaking — as so fittingly expressed 
by the versatile J. H. Beadle, as he crossed Red River into 
Texas on his tour of the ' 1 Western Wilds ' ' : 

1 'Here we enter the/ land of border romance. Hence to 
the Rio Grande southwest, and to the Rocky Ridge west and 



6 



FOREWORD 



northwest, every grove, canyon, and valley has been the 
scene of some romantic and' daring incident • bnt should I at- 
tempt to repeat all that are to lid here, the/ world itself, to 
borrow a simile from Scripture, would not contain the books 
that should be written/ ' 

Very properly the narrative opens with the arrival of 
the first American settlers within the game preserves of the 
native and ferocious Caranchua tribe — the present volume 
chronicling the bitter strife down through the colonial and 
revolutionary periods, and' closing with the last days of the 
Texas Republic ; a second! volume covering the era of state- 
hood and ending with the last conflict between red and 
white men on' Texas soil, in comparatively recent years. 

Along this line our State's history has been sadly defi- 
cient, and tradition only has preserved much of deep inter- 
est for the pen of the faithful historian. The present work, 
however, does not aspire to the dignity of a State's history, 
but rather as an urn in which are gathered the fragments, 
sifted, and shorn of fiction; and which may serve the con- 
scientious and capable historian to weave a more complete 
chronicle of a matchless and incomparable history. 

For more than a third of a century the writer has util- 
ized his spare moments in the (gathering otf materials for 
this work; narratives of Indian hostilities to the early set- 
tlers and subsequently against the frontier settlers; verify- 
ing reports of engagements by interviews with many of the 
actors ajnid eye witnesses off the actions and events related, 
and by untiring' and voluminous eorrespoftwlenee with oth- 
ers and with thoisei best informed on thei early hiistory of 
settlements and affairs of the frontier; of course carefully 
consulting all published histories, and especially files of 
our early newspapers — the most profitable source otf all — 
no efforts having been spared in any direction to attain a 
completeness of facts, and* he nee I may confidently say that 
no other history has been written that has been so carefully 
collated from original sources of information upon the 
subject toj which it relates, and I might, perhaps, also say- 
that n<*ne will ever be. The early settlers are not only 



FOREWORD 



7 



parsing- away, but have passed. The re'collecfcicnft oif the 
few who remain can add but little, eilther of narrative or 
correction, to the defective record as a whole, of Indian 
hostilities. 

Historians have often regretted that the reader cam be 
but imperfectly introduced; !to the private and domes!" e life 
of the people. Tih© /dignity of coui»Gils, the parade of cainpj 
and) armies, prevent the histioriara from attempting* the 
' 'short and simple annals of the poor." The history of In- 
dian hostilities, in some measure incidentally supplies this 
defect, affording a glimpse of the people as fthey were, viv- 
id and faithful as a photograph. 

I can my that the impartial truth of history has been 
strictly adhered to in the pages now before the reader. 

Of whatever value or imp ortance this history may be to 
present or future times, the events which it relaites are, and 
always will be, the beginning of Texas history. The Indians 
will always appear in the opening chapters, and tiheir wild, 
uncouth figures! will be defined on the horizon to which at- 
tention will be firsit directed, while their opposers and final 
conquerors, t&e equally courageous and damntless pioneers 
and border troopers will stride boldly forth in the great pa- 
geant and mingle freely in every page of the fiery and 
blood -ifeeking border history. 

The sjeem/es here recounted, the deeds of prowess, actis of 
heroism, tales of adventure, cruel sufferings and harrowing 
events portrayed, will never again be enacted; there arte no 
more frontiers to be defended, the day and usefulness of thie 
pioneer is past; the Indian, as a foe, is forever gone; there 
will never be more border wars. 

JAMES T. DeSHIELDS. 

San Marcos, Texas, October, 1912. 



Editor's Note 



In presenting- this volume of Texas Border History 
to the public, the editor does so with positive faith and con- 
fidence in the author's ability, comnage aiad strict adher- 
ence to the truth. As a Texas historian hist works are ac- 
cepted as authority by tthe best ediucators of the land; while 
his unflinchin/g regard foir authenticated facts, in the face of 
popular but fictitious 1 traditions, is unquestioned. His selec- 
tion, over many competitors, by the Alamo Heroes' Monu- 
ment Association, toi write the "Story of) ,the Siege of the 
Alamo", tsbows the oindoubted merit of his writings on nota- 
ble Texas events, and gives added weiight to< this work. 

While the labor of I thei editor has been stupendous and 
long continued, he feels that the (results attained more than 
compensates the (arduous toil. 

He sends forth this volume with much confidence that it 
will (fill a long felt want in Texasi history. 

MATT BRADLEY, Tioga, Texas. 

November, 1912. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER L 

1819-23— Early Conditions— First Fight — Austin's In- 
fant Colony — Skull Creek Encounters — Horse Thieves — The 
Famous Canoe: Fight — Fight 'in the Cane Brake 1 — Austin 
Leads Expedition Against Caranchuas — Last off the Caran- 
chuas. 

CHAPTER II. 

1824-25 — Carancbua Depredations — Early Trials of De- 
Witt's Colonists — Edwards' Colony and the Fredonian War 
— Austin's Letter — Rebellion Ends. 

CHAPTER III. 
1826-29— Hostility of Wild Tribes— War Againt Them— 
Fight Near Olid Cabin — The San Saba Expedition — Early 
Border Chiefs — Abner Kuykendall — Henry S. Birown — Mur- 
der of Elijah Roark. 

CHAPTER IV. 

1830 — Internal Affairs — Wacos and Cherokees Fight 
— Cherokee, anid Tehuacana Fight — Sundry Engagements — 
1831 — Bowie 's Famous Fight. 

CHAPTER V. 

1832 — Shawnees and Comanches — Battle of Velasco — 
Ad Lawrence's Leap. 

CHAPTER VI. 

1833 — Internal Matters — Memorial to< Congress — Scalp- 
ing of Wilbarger — Other Depredations — Madden Massacre. 



10 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER VII. 
1834 — Summary of Internal andi Other Events — Murder 
of Judge Gabriel N. Martin — Corrected' History of Event — 
Reeovery of Son — Frontier Troubles. 

CHAPTER VIII. 
1835* — Massacre of tfae Traders — Fight on the; S&n Mar- 
cos — Battle on the Blanco — Murder of Canoma — Ronting of 
Keechis — Coleman's Fight — Moore's Expedition — Heroic 
Defense of the 'Taylor Family — Trials of Early Emigrants 
— Murder of the Rancherots — Fate of Peter Mercer— Other 
Encounters. 

CHAPTER IX. 

1836— Birth of the Lone Star Repub lie— Failure of 
Beale's Colony — The Sad Sequel— ^Murder of the Douglas 
and Daugherty Families — Pioneer Times in Robertson's 
Colony — Killing of Crouch and Davidson — Capt. Hill's Scrap 
• — Murder and! Capture of the McLemnans — Fall of Parker's 
Fort — Cynthia Ann Parker and John Parker — Cthief Quanah 
Parker — Death of McSherry and Stinnett — Killing of Hib- 
bins and Creath — The Harvey Massacre — Capture of Mrs. 
Year gin and Children — Fate of the Reeds — Killing) of Ed- / 
wards — Troubles in the Hornsby Settlement — Davidson Let- 
ter. 

C>HAPTE:R X. 

1837 — Internal Affairs — Murder of Gotcher Family — 
Capture of Mrs. Crawford and three Children — Lieut. Wren's 
Fight — Murder of Congressman Robinson and Brother — Lit- 
tle River Fort — Erath's Famous Fight — Killing of the Faul- 
kenburys and Anderson — Death of James Coryell — Capture 
of "Warren Lyons: — Indians Ambush Three Settlers — The 
4 'Stone House" Fights-Murder of Kellough Families — Kill- 
ing of McCullom ,and Capt. Rogers — Post Oak Springs Mas- 
sacre — Gen. John B. Hood's Brilliant Victory. 

CHAPTER XI. 

1838 — Progress and Prosperity — Treaties with the In- 
dians^ — Battle Creek Fight — Other Surveying Expeditions — 
Pioneer Mothers of Texas— Early Days of Bastrop — Captain 



/ 



CONTENTS 



11 



Harvey'® Adventure — Karnes' Famous Fight — Capture of Ma- 
tilda Loekhart and the Putnam Children — Incidents Around 
San Antonio — Beginning of Cordova's Rebellion — Defeat of 
the Kickapoos — Routing the Comanehes — Lamar's Reign. 

CHAPTER XII. 

1839 — The Morgan Massacre — Attack on Marlin's House 
— Bryant's Fight and Defeat— Fate of the Websters — Bird 
Creek Battler-Col. Moore 's San Saba Fight — Murder of Cap- 
tain Coleman's Family — The Cordova Rebellion — Expulsion 
of the Cherokees — Rights of the Cherokees — Locating the 
Capital at Austin — Capt. Howard's Skirmish — Death of "The 
Bowl" and "The Egg". 

CHAPTER XIII. 

1840 — Famous Council House Fight — The Great Coman- 
che Raid — Sacking of Linville and Victoria — Battle at Plum 
Creek — Huston's Official Report — Attack on Kinney's Fort 
— Jack Hays Fights War Party — Captain Erath's Services— 
Beginning of San Marcos — Moore's Great Victory — Indian 
Troubles Along Red River — Fate of a Pioneer Family — Oth- 
er Tragedies — Saving Osborne 's Scalp. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

1841 — Internal Affairs — Indian^ Hostilities — Official Re- 
ports of Border Doings — Ben McCullough Routs Indians — 
Services of Chandler's Rangers — Bird's Fort — Gen. Tarrant's 
Expedition — Village Creek Fight — Death of Denton — Other 
Expeditions 1 Against Indians 1 — The Santa Fe Expedition — 
Battle in Canon De Uvalde — Border Banditti — Capt. Erath's 
Fights— Death of Major Heard. 

CHAPTER XV. 

1842— 45 — Peace or War — Houston's Indian Talks — Hous- 
ton's Indian Pow Wow — Houston's Indian Treaty — Death of 
Chief Big Foot— The Hand) to Hand Struggled—Fate of the 
Gilleland Family — Story of the Heroine — Last Raid into An- 
derson County — Capture of the Simpson Children — Murder 
of Capt. Kemper— The Later Colonies— The Republic of Tex- 
as la No More — The End. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Ross' Fight'with Chief Big Foot— Frontispiece Facing Page 

The Author and the Editor 5 

Long's Fight on Galveston Island 16 

"O Lord Mary Ann's A Widow," and "Gone to Burnham's.' 17 

The Canoe Fight and Fate of the Bee Tree Hunters 32 

The Lurking Foe and "Take it D n You" 33 

Stephen F. Austin 48 

Sam Houston 49 

Mirabeau B. Lamar 64 

Albert Sidney Johnston 65 

Wallace, Williams, Foster and Moses Austin 80 

Tyler. Harvey, Davidson and Henderson 81 

Bowie's Famous Fight 88 

James and Rezin P.Bowie.... 89 

Lane. Anglin, Edwards and Robertson 96 

DeWitt, Sylvester. Robinson and Thompson 97 

Scalping of Wilbarger 112 

The Cherokee's Revenge 113 

Massacre of the Traders 128 

Ad Lawrence's Famous Leap 129 

Henry and Ben McCulloch. Jack Hays 160 

The Parkers 161 

Bryan, Erath, Jones and Coleman 176 

Ross, Brown, Stout and Highsmith 177 

Defense of the Taylor Family 208 

Erath's Fight with an Indian 209 

Walter P. Lane rescues Euclid M. Cox 224 

Robinett Killing Chief Buffalo Hump 225 

Davis, Wilbarger, McKinney and Anglin 256 

Monument to Battle Creek Heroes 257 

The Capital at Austin in 1844 272 

Hays' Texas Rangers in 1844 273 

Scene at Parker's Fort Massacre 304 

Famous Council House Fight 305 

Battle at Plum Creek 320 

Death of Denton 321 

Charging the Village 368 

Houston's Indian Pow wow „ 369 

Map of Texas, Showing Colonies „ 384 

Map of Texas. Showing Roads and Rivera ~ 385 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS 



HE history of that period) in 
which the Spaniards occupied 
Texas — 1690 to the Mexican rev- 
olution in 1820 — and not inap- 
propriately called "The Mission 
Era," has much to do with the 
native and migrated 1 tribes who' 
had occupied the country from 
earliest times. But no system- 
atic account of the Indian trou- 
bles of this period has ever been 
attempted; and indeed the ma- 
terials for such a narrative are 
yet to be searched out and trans- 
lated from the documents and 
archives of that time. Enough, 
however, is known to war- 
rant the assertion that the 
bold Apaches and Comanches 
in their perennial raids and depredations were the dread 
and scourge of the western frontier under both Spanish and 
Mexican rule. 

Being in fact the rightful owners of the country, to 
which a native tribe gave name*, by priority of occupa- 
tion at least, these brave and warlike tribes held all intrud- 
ers as vassals to their powerful confederacy. The following 



♦From an old tradition we learn, and are inclined to believe, that "Texas" is an In- 
dian name, derived from the word "Tehas," and signified, paradise; and applied to the 
country in the gorgeous beauty of its virgin existence, was certainly an appropriate name. 



I 




16 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



statement by historian Kennedy wall serve to illustrate the 
conditions in tbat section during the tinne referred to : 

''In the destruction of the Missions, the Com'aiietas 
were the principal ageints. Encouraged by the passive sub- 
mission of the Mexicans of mixed blood, they carried their 
insolence so far as to ride into Bexar, and alight in the 
public square, leaving their 'horses to be caught and 
pastured by the obsequious soldiers of the garrison, on pain 
of chastisement. To raise a contribution, they would en- 
ter the town with a drove of Mexican horses, stolen by 
themselves, aaid under pretense of having rescued the cabal- 
lado from hostile Indians, would exact a reward for their 
honesty! They openly carried off herds of cattle and horses 
from the settlements east of the Rio Grande, sparing the 
lives of the herdsmen, not from motives of humanity, but 
because they deemed it impolitic to kill those who were so 
useful in raising horses/ and mules for the benefit of the 
Comanches." 

Thus we see the lordly Comanches were more than a 
match for the Spaniards and Mexicans, and after more than 
a century of untiring effort to conciliate and christiamaze 
these Indians, and to people the territory of Texas, Mexi- 
co * wm willing to give up in despair. But a new era 
dawned in the history of Texas, henceforward the red men 
must deal with ;a more formidable intruder — that invincible 
vanguard of western civilization — the American pioneer. 



Jf"The leading object of the Mexican Government in allowing the colonization of Texas," 
says Newell, "was undoubtedly the protection of her frontiers from the hostile invasion of 
the Indians. The Comanches and other tribes had waged a constant and ruinous warfare 
against tha Spanish settlements at Bexar and Goliad, on the western limits of Texas and 
extended their ravages also beyond the Rio Grande. Mexico, even under the govern- 
ment of old Spain, had been unable to subdue or restrain them, and she would have had 
to abandon Texas altogether, if not other parts of her territory, had she not found a peo- 
ple, willing, for the sake of a small portion of her soil, to go in and subdue them." (Histo- 
ry of the Texas revolution, pages 14-15) --"And yet," adds Yoakum, "the colonists have been 
charged with ingratitude. Wherein? They wer9 invited to a desert. They came, and found 
it inhabited by Indians and those of such audacity, that even in San Antonio, where the 
Mexicans mostly lived, they compelled the citizens and 3oldiers in the placa to hold their 
horseB while they paraded about the town; these savages the colonists had to subdue at 
their own expense and on their own account. Mexico gave them nothing— the lands only 
.were valuable because they made them so. They were determined to keep it free, not only 
from Indian cruelty, but Mexican tyranny." (Texas, Vol. 1, Pages 245-246.) 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



17 



FIRST FIGHT. 

The first conflict between Anglo-Americans and Texas 
Indians occurred on Galveston Island late in ,the fall of 1819, 
antedating more tibaoi a year the arrival of Moses Austin at 
San Antonio de Bexar, seeking permission to establish a 
colony in the province of Texa,s. 

At that time the patriotic but unfortunate General 
James Long, venturing a second expedition into Texas, was 
fortified with fifty-Odd of his followers at Bolivar Point, 
opposite the east end of Galveston Island. A French sloop, 
freighted with Mexican supplies, wines, etc., and bound for 
Cassano, stranded near the present city of Galveston. The 
Caranchua Indians, to the number of 200 warriors, were en- 
camped in the immediate vicinity, and at once attacked and 
butchered all on board the luckless craft, destroying the 
cargo, and indulging in a drunken carousal <and war dance. 

Long determined to avenge this outrage, and after night- 
fall, with thirty men, crossed over in small boats to the is- 
land; and while the orgies were at their height, made a vig- 
orous attack upon the unsuspecting and jubilant savages. 
Quickly rallying from their surprise and confusion, the 
Indians secured their weapons, and yelling furiously, met 
their assailants with determined courage. Superior in num- 
bers, they were a full match for the whites. A desperate 
hand to hand fight of doubtful issue, now ensued; but 
Long effected a timely retreat to his boats, leaving thirty 
two Indians killed, and many wounded; three of his own 
mm were killed and two (George Early and another) bad- 
ly, besides several slightly, wounded. Two Indian boys were 
taken prisoners and retained by the whites, one being ac- 
cidentally killed some time afterwards. 



* Prior to this engagement, in 1818, while Galveston Island was occupied by Jean La- 
Fitte, the celebrated pirate chief, some of his men kidnapped a young Caranchua squaw 
Through revenge,the Indians crossed over to the island and discovering a party of the pirates 
out hunting, ambushed and killed four of them; whereupon LaFitte, with 200 men and two 
small pieces of artillery attacked some 3C0 of the tribe then encamped at a place since locally 
known as the"Three Trees," and after a desperate fight, in which some thirty warriors were 
slain and a much larger number wounded, forced them to disperse to the mainland. None 
of LaFitte'3 men were killed, but a number were badly wounded with arrows. 



18 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



In 1821, after LaFitte was forced to abandon his ' 4 lit- 
tle kingdom" by the United States naval authorities, a Dr. 
Parnell, with a party) of about twenty men, visited the is- 
land to search for supposed buried treasures. Encountering 
about 100 Caranchuas at their favorite camp, the "Three 
Trees," the Americans again attacked and defeated the In- 
dians, who left the island, forever, it is said, carrying off sev- 
eral -dead and wounded, and leaving one of their chilidreoi 
prisoner. The only casualty to the whites was the slight 
wounding of Dr. Parnell — an arrow pinming his cap to the 
skin of his head, which he failed to notice till after the 
fight. 

"It was these attacks," suggests historian Yoakum, "that 
made the Caranchuas so hostile to Austin's colonists in af- 
ter years." 



AUSTIN'S INFANT COLONY. 

A new era had dawned in the history of Texas. The 
fair land) was not destined to remain am unsettled and sav- 
age infested land — civilization was rapidly advancing to 
the Southwest, the American pioneer was coming as the 
courier and advance guard. Austin and his first colo- 
nists had boldly entered the wilderness, and were determined 
to maintain a foothold, though they did so under difficulties, 
and suffering great privations. The first settlers arrived on 
the Brazos River during the last days of December, 1821, 
and the dawn of New Year's day, 1822, marks the date of 
the first permanent Anglo-American settlement in Texas. 

Austin's colony soon attracted the attention of home- 
seekers throughout the whole Southwest, and other settlers 
continued to arrive overland and by water. In June, 1822, 
the schooner, "Only Son," with upward of ninety emi- 
grants (among them Horatio Chrisman, who became the 
noted surveyor aind Indian fighter of Austin's Colony) and 
supplies for the new colony, auchored in Matagorda Bay. 
A few days later another vessel, from New Orleans, enter- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



19 



ed the mouth of the Colorado. Among the passengers aboard 
the vessel, from New Orleans, was Samuel M. "Williams, af- 
terwards the famous secretary of Austin's Colony. The pas- 
sengers from both vessels were landed on the west bank of 
the Colorado, at a point three mile® above its mouth, where 
they went into camp and erected temporary storage for 
their goods. Before leaving for the interior, a treaty of 
friendship was formed with the Indians, and four young 
men were left to guard their property, while six of their 
number, including Helm and Clare, were dispatched to La 
Bahia for means of transportation. On returning with 
Mexican carts, they found the camp had been attacked, 
guards murdered, and the supplies all destroyed or carried 
away by the faithless 'and fiendish savages. This was a most 
serious loss to the emigrants, and caused them much suffer- 
ing for lack of provisions, and other necessities. 

The sad news reaching the settlement, a party of colo- 
nists were soon collected, armed, and in pursuit. Locating 
the camp of the enemy, the settlers made a surprise attack, re- 
covering a remnant of their supplies, and routing: the In- 
dians with some loss. 

Thus hostilities commenced, and, with brief intervals, 
was carried on for years, resulting in the loss of many valua- 
ble lives and the final extermination of this once powerful 
and formidable coast tribe. With savage stealth, the Indians 
often lay in ambush till the men would leave their cabins, 
when, without warming, they would rush upon the unpro- 
tected and helpless women and children, who pleaded for 
mercy in vain. On one occassion, only one child out of 
a large family, was found alive, but it was mortally wound- 
ed by an ugly arrow. * The whites may not have hem so 
wantonly cruel and bloodthirsty; they were equally stub- 
born aaid determined. The conflict was inevitable, irresis- 
tible — one of expulsion and extermination. Scores of trage- 
dies were enacted between the emigrants in Austin's Colony 
and the Aborigines during the first years of its feeble exist- 



»Mrs. Helm's "Scrap of Early Texas History," Page 36. 



20 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ence — the particulars of which, alas! were 'never recorded. 
Such reliable notes as we have been able to gather, mostly 
from the "Kuykendall Reminiscences," will be given in the 
order of their occurrence. 



SKULL CREEK ENCOUNTERS. 

Dniirg tie spring of 1823 a severe drouth prevailed, 
and but a scant crop of corn was made that season in the 
colony. In the summer three young men were ascending 
the Colorado River with a canoe load of corn, which they 
had raised on the cane lands below the settlements.* Near 
the mouth of Skull Creek, a few miles from the present 
town of Columbus, in Colorado county, they were waylaid 
and fired upon by the Indians, Loy and Alley being killed. 
Johm C. Clark, however, with :seven severe wounds, swam 
to the opposite shore, aind, by secreting himself in a dense 
thicket, escaped, and recovered — to live many years and ac- 
cumulate immense wealth. He died in 1861. 

Later, the same day, and near the same .place, Robert 
Brotherton, a young man recently from St. Louis county, 
Missouri, unexpectedly rode among the same party of In- 
dians, thinking they were friendly Tonkawas. Losing his 
gun in the struggle to free himself, he put spurs to his 
hors'e and escaped with a painful arrow wound in the back. 

Reaching the settlement, Brotherton gave the alarm. 
* 1 When this news was received," says Kuykendall, "about 
a dozen of the settlers led by my uncle, Robert Kuykendall, 
went in pursuit of the Indians. The Tonkawas were at 
that time camped /near his house, and the settlers thought it 
prudent to take their chief (Carita) with them to insure 
the good behavior of his people during the absence of the 
party, whose families would be unprotected until their re- 
turn. 

Upon arriving near the mouth of Skull Creek, the par- 



it' The manner in which the land was prepared was simple. The cane was burned off 
and holes made in the ground with handspikes, where the corn was planted. The land being 
very rich.-a good yield wa3 obtained in thi3 manner. "Dewee3 Letter from Texa3," Page 39. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



21 



ty halted in order to spy out the Indians, and some time af- 
ter dark, they heard them in a thicket pounding briar 
root. Locating the enemy, the settlers dismounted, secur- 
ed their horses, and awaited the coming day." By the morn- 
ing twilight they were enabled to find a small path which 
led into the thicket and to the camp of the Indians, "and as 
silently as possible," says one of the party/ 'we crawled in- 
to a thicket about ten steps behind the camp. Placing our- 
selves about four or five steps <apairt, in a sort of semi-circle,, 
and completely cutting off their retreat from the swamps." 
As the first Indian arose, the signal for action was 
given. The surprise was complete. The settlers rushed 
on the camp and delivered a deadly fire. Nine or 
ten warriors were killed on the spot; ten more were slain 
in their wild attempt to retreat ; two eseaped badly wound- 
ed. The encampment was destroyed, and the settlers re- 
turned home without further incident. This was a severe 
blow to the Caraaichuas, and it caused them to leave the 
settlement for a time and to use more stealth and precau- 
tion in their depredations. 

Durirg the fall and winter of 1823-24 Austin's colony 
was in a very feeble condition. The empresario Austin, re- 
counting the trials and privations of his colonists at this 
early period, says, "They were totally destitute of bread 
and salt; coffee, sugar, etc., were remembered and hoped for 
at some future day. There was no other dependence for 
subsistence but the wild game, such as buffalo, bear, deer, 
turkeys and wild horses, (mustangs). The Indians rendered 
it quite dangerous ranging the country for buffalo ; bear 
were very poor and scarce, owing to failure in mast, and 
poor venison, it is w T ell known, is .the least nutritious of all 
the meat kind. The mustang horses, however, were fat 
and very abundant, and it is estimated that at least one 
hundred of these were eaten the two first years. 

"The Caranchua Indians were very hostile on the 
coast; the Wacos and Tehuacanies were equally so in the 
interior, and committed constant depredations. Parties of 
Tonkawas, Lipans, Beedies and others were intermingled 



22 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



with the settlers; they were beggarly and insolent, and were 
only restrained the first two years by presents, forbearance 
and policy; there was not force enough to awe them. One 
imprudent step with these Indians would have destroyed 
the settlement, and the settlers deserve as much for their 
forbearance duirintg the years 1822 and 1823, as for their for- 
titude/' 

"In 1824, the strength of the settlement justified a change 
of policy, and a party of Tonkawas were tried and whipped 
in the presence of their chiefs for horse stealing." 

Thus the empresario Austin himself 'has given uis a 
brief, but vivid picture of what must have been the difficul- 
ties, privations and dangers which had to be borne and 
overcome during the first years of his colony. Austin him- 
self was absent from his colony for several months, being 
very unexpectedly called to the city of Mexico, to secure 
ratification of his colonization -contract by the new, revolu- 
tionary formed, government of Iturbide. The Indians were 
more or less troublesome and threatening; provisions were 
scarce, "store bought," clothing was an almost unknown 
luxury, and many privations, as well as real sufferings, were 
experienced. To give the reader a better knowledge of the 
deplorable conditions and gloomy prospects existing in the 
infant colony at that period, we extract briefly from letters 
and narratives of some of the early settlers :- 

Colorado River, Coahuila, and Texas. 

December 1, 1823. 

Dear Friend: Since I last wrote, our sufferings have 
been very great for want of provisions. On account of dry 
weather our crops were very poor, and are now entirely 
spent. The game has left this section of the country, and 
we are now very much pressed for food. There have been 
a great many tow settlers come on this fall, and those who 
have not been accustomed to hunting in the woods for sup- 
port, are obliged to suffer. Were it not for a few boys who 
have no families, their wives and children would suffer 
mueh more than they now do ; in fact, I fear some of them 
wotsW. starve. Those of us who have mo families of our own 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



23 



reside with some of the families of the settlement. We re- 
main here, notwithstanding the scarcity of provisions, to as- 
sist in protecting 1 the settlement. We are obliged to go 
out in the morning , a party of us, to hunt food, leaving a 
part of /the men at -home to guard the settlement from In- 
dians, who are very hostile to us. Indeed, we dare not go 
cut and hunt except in companies, as we are obliged to 
keep cn a lookout, lest the savages fall upon us; and one 
cannot hunt and watch too. Game is now so scarce that we 
often hunt all day for a dee- or a turkey, and return at 
night empty handed. It would make your heart sick to 
see tftie poor little half naked children, who have nothing to 
eat during the day, watch for the return of the hunters at 
night. As soon as they catch the first glimpse of us they ea- 
gerly run to meet us, and learn if we have been successful in 
our hunt. If the hunters return with a deer or turkey, the 
children are almost wild with delight; while on the other 
hand, they suddenly stop in their course, their counte- 
nances fall, the deep, bitter te'ars well up in their eyes 
and roll down their pale cheeks. 

Tis truly heart-rending to see us return home after 
a hard -days hunt without anv game, knowing, as we do, 
that the women and children are entirely without food, 
and cain have nothing until we find it in our hunt. No one 
can know our sufferings, or even imagine our feelings, un- 
less they have been in similar situations. And to render 
our situation the more dreadful, our sufferings the more 
acute, we are often obliged to get the women cf the differ- 
ent settlements together, and make a kind of fort to protect 
them from the merciless savages. It is surprising to- see 
how bravely the delicate females bear up under their suffer- 
ings, without a murmur or complaint. 'Tis only by their 
looks they show their feelings. When we seem the least 
discouraged, they cheer us with kind words and looks, and 
strive to appear cheerful ajnd happy. They do more when 
we *are worried out with toil and fatigue — they take our 
guns in their hands and aissist us in standing guard. 

"Our prospects for the winter look very gloomy. If the 



24 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Indians attack us, I scarcely know what we shall do ; but I 
hope for t'he best, and trust that we 'shall be provided for 
in seme way. Were it not for the Tonkawa Indians, a 
small tribe who are friendly t j us and supply us with/ dress- 
ed deerskins, we should be almost entirely destitute of cloth- 
ing. Once in a great while we are able to obtain a small 
piece of unbleached domestic, or a bit of calico, at the ex- 
orbitant price of seventy-five cents a yard, from some one 
pasising through the country ; but this is very seldom. T'he 
common dress of men and children is made of buckskin, and 
even the women are often forced to wear the same. 
Your affectionate friend, W. B. Dewees.' , 

Captain Jesse Burnham in his " Reminiscences, " after 
telling of 'his enfeebled condition from sickness, and that 
"we got out of bread " and had no food £or two days, 
says: 

"At last I heard one of my children say, ' 1 am so hun- 
gry.' I was too feeble to hunt, but I got up and began to 
fix my gun slowly. I didn't feel as tfhough/ I could walk, 
but I started on my first hunt. I had not gone far wtien 
I saw two deer, a fawn and its mother. I shot the fawn 
first, knowing the doe would not run far, then I snot and 
killed her. 'O ho,' I said, 'two deer in one day, and my 
first hunt!' I took the fawn to camp to my hungry chil- 
dren and took William, my oldest boy, and a horse after 
the doe. My wife had dressed a skin and made William a 
shirt, but it lacked one sleeve, so she dressed the fawn skin 
that day and made the other sleeve." 

"We were still out of bread, and it had been nine 
months since we had seen any. A man from lower down the 
country came up and told me he had corn that he had plant- 
ed with a stick — there were no plows or hoes in the colony. 
I gave ihim a horse for twenty bushels and went twenty-six 
miles after it with two horses, and brought eight bushels 
back. I walked and led my horse. I had prepared a mor- 
tar* before I left nome to -beat it in, and a sieve made of 



♦ Many of the first emigrants to Austin's Colony had not even a hand mill, and for a 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



25 



deer skin stretched over a hoop and with hole® punched in 
it. We would have to be very saving, of course, and were 
allowed only one piece of bread around, 

"About this time my oldest daughter's dress wore out 
before we could get any cotton to spin, and she wore a 
dress of dressed buckskin. I thad pants and a hunting 
shirt made of deerskin. My wife colored the skin brown 
and fringed the hunting shirt, and it was considered the 
nicest suit in the colony." 

Horatio Chrisman, the famous surveyor and early In- 
dian fighter of Austin's colony, says: "All these emi- 
grants suffered for want of provisions. We had about 
eigfat acres of corai which if not worked immediately, was 
certain to be lost. I could not stop the plow to hunt. I 
took no sustenance save a few stinted drinks of buttermilk 
until after I finished plowing over flbe eight acres. My 
plow animal was an old, slow, blind mule." A few weeks 
afterward, Mr. Chrisman learned that James Whitesides — 
Whose residence was on the east side of the Brazos — had 
gone to the United States on business, and that his family, 
consisting of his wife and two little boys, had little or 
nothing to eat but lettuce. Sending out his excellent hunt- 
er, Martin Varner, he secured a very large buck, which he 
threw across his horse and carried to Mrs. Whitesides, a dis- 
tance of twenty miles. "Aunt Betsey," says Chrisman, 
"never forgot this favor." 

The lot of these first pioneers was indeed a hard and 
rugged one, but in common, and they were ever ready to 
assist and protect each other at their own discomfort, and 
often at the risk of their lives. 

During the summer Capt. Chrisman was without a shirt, 
and wore a buckskin hunting shirt instead. Toward au- 
tumn he learned that Col. Jared Groce had some goods. 
He therefore visited the colonel to replenish his wardrobe. 

long time their only means of manufacturing- meal was by pounding- the corn with a wooden 
pestle in a motar made in a log or stump. The first saw and grist mill propelled by water, 
was erected on Mill Creek, by the Cummings family. It went into operation in the year 
1826. One or two horse mills had been erected a saort time befoire.— Kuykendall's Re- 
miniscences. 



26 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



He bought a few yards of coarse brown "Holland," from 
which be had a Mrs. Byrd to make him two shirts — "the 
best I ever wore, as they lasted three years." But we are 
digressing. 



HORSE THIEVES. 

Another sort of annoyance to the struggling colonists, 
and one that for a while threatened to be more serious 1 than 
Indian troubles, was a clan of Mexican and American rob- 
bers and horse thieves that infested the colony about this 
time — some of them erstwhile denizens of the "Neutral 
Grounds," where they held undisputed sway and found a 
safe retreat. Others, "men who had fled from justice in 
the United States, and come to the colony with the hope of 
committing their depredations with greater impunity." — 
Yoakum's Texas, Vol. 1, page 228. 

"During the same summer," (1823), says Kuykendall 
in his Reminiscences, "A Frenchman and two Mexicans, all 
residents of L/ouisiana, returning from the Rio Grande with 
a small cavalcade, passed through our neighborhood and 
crossed the Brazos at the La Bahia road. As they passed 
by the residence of Martin Varner, (near the present town 
ad Independence), they stole his most valuable horse. Our 
Alcalde, Joseph H. Bell, ordered me to raise a few men 
and pursue the thieves. The men who went with me were 
Martin Varner, Samuel Kennedy, James Nelson, Oliver 
Jones and George Robinson. About midnight of the day we 
started, we arrived at the creek much swollen by a recent 
rain. Dark as it was, we swam this stream, and about an 
hour before day, on the waters of the Trinity, we came up- 
on the camp ; and at dayli'ght captured the theives, and re- 
covered Varner 's and ten or eleven other horses. The cul- 
prits were tried by the local authorties and sentenced to 
receive thirty-nine laches, which sentence was duly execut- 
ed; <after which the Frenchman was released, it appearing 
that he was only accessory to the theft. "The principal was 
now earned before Alcalde Bell for further proceedings; 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



27 



again whipped, and released on the east side of the Brazos, 
with orders to depart the Colony."* 

Colonel Austin, as civil and military commandant, now 
adopted more drastic measures, determined to rid his colony 
of the scourge. An opportunity soon offered to carry out 
his plan. "A still greater outrage" continues Kuykendall, 
''was perpetrated this summer by another party of Mexi- 
cans from the border of Louisiana. They were enroute to 
the Rio Grande, and finding a small party of Mexicans on 
Skull Greek, with a cavalcade which they were driving east, 
the Louisianans camped with them. The ensuing night they 
fell upon their Rio Grande brethren, and after murdering 
two or three and dispersing the rest, took possession of the 
cavallada. Carrasco, the owner of the horses, though wound- 
ed, escaped to the settlement on the Colorado ; whereupon 
uncle Robert Kuykendall with a few men, started in pursuit 
of the theives. Ift was stoon discovered they had separated 
into two parties (having divided the horses), one of which 
had crossed the Colorado a short distance below the La 
Bahia road, and the other many miles above it. The latter 
party, after crossing the river, fell into and followed the San 
Antonio road and escaped to Louisiana, but the former was 
pursued and overtaken, <on the west bank of the Brazos, at 
the Cooshatite crossing. Two of them were killed and their 
heads stuck on poles at the roadside. The horses were also 
taken and restored to their owner. After this example, 
the 'border ruffians' ceased their depredations within the 
bounds of Austin's Colony." 

However, the Tonkawas, ever professing friendship for 
the whites, could not restrain their propensity for stealing, 
and committed numerous petty depredations. 

"Toward the latter part -of this summer," says Kuyken- 
dall, "a party of Tonkawas stole a horse from my 
father and several from Mr. Wheat. Father, Thomas Boat- 
wright, my brother Barzillai and myself, pursued the thieves. 



"At first" says Yoaknm, "they were pursued, the property reclaimed, and the rob- 
bers -whipped and turned loose, but this only seemed to exasperate and cause them to add 
murder to robbery, in order to prevent detection." 



28 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



At the infant town of San Filipe, then containing but two 
or three log cabins, we were joined by Austin and a few 
others, who went with us to Fort Bend, wihere we were join- 
ed Vy a few more men, making our force thirty strong. On 
approaching the Tonka wa camp, Oarita, the chief, met the 
party, professing regrets that five of his youmg men had 
stolen the horses; that the animals would be restored and 
the thieves punished. Delivering the horses, the old chief 
pointed out the five men who had committed the theft, each 
of whom 1 wias sentenced to receive fifty Lashes, and have one 
half of his head shaved. The sentence was fully carried 
out on four, one being excused for sickness, Chief Carita 
inflicting one half, and Capt. Kuykendall the otmer half of 
the lashes." 

At this time thene were two divisions of ijhis tribe ; the 
other encampment being on the Colorado under Chief Sandia. 
The combined number of warriors 4 4 did not mudh exceed 
one hundred — it certainly did not reach one hundred and fif : 
■ty."* 

"With the return of spring, favorable seasons and a fair 
yield of crops, came mew life and renewed hopes for fchje 
struggling colonists. ' 'New comers" were locating at dif- 
ferent points, amd a more prosperous and peaceful condition 
prevailed in the Colony. But the settlers were not long left 
undisturbed. The Caranchuas soon renewed ^hostilities. In 
June of this year, a party of Caranchuas halted near the 
camp of Capt. Robert Kuykendiall, on Peach Creek, a few 
miles below Eagle Lake, killing some of his stock aind shoot- 
ing at his little ten year old son, who e sea ped and rode for 
assistance. Kuyketndall, with bis wife and smaller children 
secreted themselves in a thicket. Capt. Ingram amd a dozen 
neighbors soon came to their relief. The settlers followed 
the trail of the retreating Indians, which wound for sever- 
al miles through a dense cane brake. When the pursuers 
arrived, at the Colorado River, they espied th!e Indians on 
the opposite bank, where they were drying meat. "Spur- 



* Kuykendall' s Reminiscences. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



29 



ring their horses to a gallop, they plunged into the river in 
the face of -the eaiemy, who sainted them with a swarm of 
arrows, and fled to the adjacent cane brake. In the camp 
Alexander Jackson stooped to pick up a buffalo robe, wfhen 
a 'cloth yard' arrow was driven through /his elbow. At 
the moment, a companion, John V. Clark, saw the In- 
dian who had shot Jackson, in the cane brake, with his bow 
raised to shoot again. Clark quickly aimed and fired, the 
Indian falling dead, the rifle ball cutting his wrist in two, 
and penetrating his breast. The Indian's being secure in 
their cane brake (retreat, the settlers deemed it prudent to 
give up further pursuit." 



THE FAMOUS CANOE FIGHT. 

About this time Capt. White, an old trader who lived 
at La Bahia, and owned a small boat, had an adventure 
with the Caranchuas. Embarking at Port Lavaca his vessel, 
loaded with salt to exchange for corn, he steered up the 
Colorado to what is called "Old Landing, " two miles from 
its mouth, where he landed, leaving his boat in charge of 
two or three Mexicans, and went vsp to the settlement in 
search of corn. A party of Caranchuas were encamped 
near the landing, and professing friendship for White and 
his Mexican companion, requested him to visit them on his 
return, as they wished to trade for corn. Going up Peach 
Creek to the Kincheloe settlement, White found corn in ex- 
change for his salt — the corn to be delivered to his boat, and 
the salt received there. Meantime the settlers were inform- 
ed of the situation, and a runner sent sixty miles above for 
Capt. Jesse Burnam, who hastily collected a company of twen- 
ty-five and marched on the Indians. We quote Burnam's own 
account: "White was to inform the Indians of his return, 
by making a camp fire. He gave the signal just at day- 
light. I left twelve of my men at the boat, for fear the In- 
dians might come from a different direction, while I took 
the other half and went down the river, to the Indians' 
landing place. About half an hour by sun, the Indians came 



30 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



rowing up the river, very slowly and cautiously, as 
though they expected danger. The river banks were low, 
but with sufficient brush to conceal us. Just as they were 
landing, I fired on them, my signal shot killing one In- 
dian, and in less than five minutes we had killed eight. The 
other two swam off with the canoe, which they kept between 
them and us, but finally one of them, raising his head to 
guide the canoe, received a mortal shot. I returned home 
without the loss of a man."* 



DISASTROUS FIGHT IN THE CANE BRAKE. 

Through favorable reports sent out by Austin, his 
colony continued to increase in population — giving a sem- 
blance of strength that would better enable him to cope with 
the Indians. The land office was opened, surveyors appoint- 
ed, and we are informed, about two hundred and fifty titles 
were issued to the original "300" settlers during 
this year.** While the colonists busied themselves se- 
lecting locations, surveying lands, and making improve- 
ments, tidings came that a small party of emigrants, 
enroute from the moutli of the Brazos, had been at- 
tacked and murdered by the exasperated Caranchuas. Col- 
onel Autstin, to retaliate, and prevent a repetition of such 
outrages, in September, commissioned Capt. Randal Jones, 
with a company of twenty three men, to proceed down the 
Brazos in canoes, reconnoiter the coast as far as Matagorda 
Bay, iand, if found, show no mercy to the party that massa- 
cred the emigrants, as well as any other hostiles. Landing 
at a favorable position, scouts were sent out to reconnoi- 
ter. "We quote from Jones' Journal: " Convinced that the 
Indians were secretly preparing for am attack, two of the 
scouts 1 were dispatched up the river for reinforcements. At 
Bailey's store, on the Brazos, they were joined by eight or 



* Reminiscences of Capt. Jesse Burn am, in Texas Historical Quarterly— Vol. 5, pages 
17 and 18. 

* Jf 247 was. the exact number of titles issued in 1824. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



31 



ten colonists already collected to watch the maneuvermgs 
of about a dozen Indians who had visited that place for am- 
munition. At daybreak the f ollowing morninig, an attack 
was made, a few Indians were killed, and their discomfitted 
companions routed." 

In the meantime, directed by the loud wailing for their 
fallen comrades at Bailey's, Capt. Jones ascertained that 
some thirty Indians were encamped -on the west bank of a 
small, sluggish tributary of the San Bernard — since call- 
ed Jones Creek. 

Approaching under cover of night, within sixty yards of 
the encampment, the company halted, quickly prepared 
for action, and "when it was light enough to see their 
sights" made a furious attack. Although greatly surprised, 
the Indians quickly hid themselves in the reeds and tall 
marsh grass, Where they fought with great desperation and 
advantage. Exposed to the deadly balls and arrows of the 
Indians, the whites finally retreated, with a loss of three of 
their number, Spencer, Bailey and Singer. The Indians, too, 
suffered severely, -their dead being estimated aft fifteen. A 
proportionate number were wounded on either side. 

John Henry Brown says, "It was a clear repulse of 
the whites, whose leader, Capt. Jones, was aai experienced 
soldier of approved courage. Such a result was lamentable 
at that period in the colony's existence." 

The whites returned home, and the Indians retreated 
westward across the San Bernard. Greatly incensed, and 
somewhat emboldened, the Caranchuas now became more 
hostile and troublesome. * 



AUSTIN LEADS EXPEDITION AGAINST CAKANCHUAS. 

As the confines of Austin's colony were extending in 
every direction, many outrages were perpetrated on the 
more venturesome and exposed settlers. Col. Austin, now 



* During this year, Capt. Chrisman, while out surveying with small parties of "land 
locators," had several skirmishes and numerous adventures with ahe Caranchuas on the 
San Bernard River and Gulf Prairie. 



32 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



deeming his forces sufficiently strong, determined to chas- 
tise and expel the thieving and murderous Caranchuas 
from his colony. Accordingly, in July, he headed an expedi- 
tion of forty or fifty armed men from San Felipe. Cross- 
ing tihe Colorado (near Eagle Lake, and proceeding down 
the west side of the river to ' ' Jennings Camp ; ' ' thence to 
the Lavaca below the mouth of the Nabadad; most of the 
route being through the prairie country. Pioneers were de- 
tailed to open roads through the dense thickets and cane 
brakes, bordering stream® they crossed. But the Indians 
had warning of this expedition and fled from the colony — 
west, toward the San Antonio River. 

Returning to the capital for fresh supplies and rein- 
forcements, Austin determined to pursue and deal these 
Indians a telling blow while they were united in their retreat. 

This second expedition, of some ninety men, thirty of 
whom were negroes, tlhte slaves of Col. Jared E. Groee, 
mounted, armed and commanded by him, left San Felipe in 
August; passing thie Colorado at the Atascocito crossing, 
and following the Atascocito road to the Guadalupe River, 
near the present town of Victoria;* thence marching in 
the direction of La Bahia, expecting to strike the Indians 
west of the San Antonio River, on either Espirita Santo 
or Aransas Bays. "But on the Manahuilla Creek, a few 
miles east of that town," says John Henry Brown, "foe 
was mot by the priest, Alcalde and citizens, who ap- 
peared as mediators for the Indians. The Caranchuas, 
aforetime nominally belonging to the Mission of La Bahia 
as converted Indians, now seeing danger approaching, pro- 
fessed peniteaice, and appealed to the priest and Alcalde Ho 
avert their threatened destruction. The result was a confer- 
ence and quasi-treaty, in which the Indians solemnly pledged 
themselves to never again come east of the San Antonio 
or Guadalupe Rivers-. The colonists thereupon returned 
home." 



*'At that time there was not a single habitation on the Guadalupe River from its head 
to its mouth' — Kuykendall Reminiscences. 





i 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



33 



For a time these Indians remained quiet, the good 
priest (exited himself in their behalf, and hopes weire en- 
tertained that he would succeed in bringing them under the 
benignant influence of Christian civilization. But "to the 
manner bcrn" the Caranchuas could not long restrain their 
murderous and thieving propensities; the treaty was soon 
broken, and for more than twenty years they continued to 
commit many petty, and some serious depredations. ' ' In fact, ' ' 
says Kuykendall, "some of the greatest atrocities ever com- 
mitted by these Indians in Austin's Colony, were perpe- 
trated after this treaty was made.* 

In the winter of this year, the families of Flowers and 
Cavanaugh were murdered by the Caranchuas. Capt. Buck- 
ner, with a company, pursued the Indians to their camp 
on the bay about three miles east of the present town 
of Matagorda, where at day break he made a surprise at- 
tack, killing some thirty, and completely routing them. 
This was the ^greatest loss these Indians ever sustained in any 
one fight with the colonists. Sometimle during the year 
1832, Capt. John Ingram led a party of 'nineteen men in an 
attack on. an encampment of Caranchuas on Live Oak Creek, 
within the present limits of Matagorda County. The party 
fired on the Indians at the dawn of day, killing four or 
five and dispersing the remain der. 

"Near the mouth of the Guadalupe, in 1834," says John 
Henry Brown, "they were only detered from attacking the 
party of Major James Kerr, surveying lands for De Leon's 
Colony, by a ruse practiced upon them by him; and during 
that year they were wOiipped in a fight near Laguna V.erde, 
or Green Lake, now in Calhoun County, by a party of Mex- 
ican 'and American settlers commanded by the brave Capt. 
Plaeido Venibides." "In the year 1834 or 1835," says Kuy- 
kendall, "the 'Tonkawas, instigated by the Mexicans of Vic- 
toria, treacherously 'assassinated fifteen or twenty of the 
Caranchuas. The Tonkawas went to the camp of the Ca- 
ranchuas, taking with them a small boy, who secretly cut 

*In the year 1826, Capt. Aylett C. Buckner, defeated a party of Caranchuas below 
Elliott's Crossing. 



34 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



the bow strings of the Caranchuas, when the Tonkawas fell 
upon them and murdered all but two oir three. " 

In' the Spring of 1836, the Caranchuas still counted 
twenty-five or thirty, warriors. When the army of invasion 
reached our frontier, they joined it, and fougiht against uts 
at the Mission of Refugio in March, 1836. They had pre- 
viously offered to fight for the Americans, but their offer 
was either rejected or neglected. 

About 1840 they were encamped on the Guadalupe Riv- 
er, below Victoria, near the junction of the San Antonio, and 
on account of some depredations committed by them, were 
•attacked by the Mexican 'and American settlers of that vi- 
cinity, and many killed. "They fled to the southwest, along 
the ccast," says Kenney, "and their brief history hastens 
to its catastrophe." 

In 1843 they were camped about fifty miles southwest of 
Corpus Christi, where they were found by a Mexican rang- 
ing company under Capt. Rafael Aldrete, who had known 
them from his childhood as cannibal savages. He at once 
attacked and almost annihilated them, very few escaping. 
Their last notable, hostile act was the murder of Capt. John 
Kemper 'at his home on the G uadalupe, Victoria County, in 
November, 1845. Mrs. Kemper, with her two little child/ren, 
and her mother, af ter the Indians had attempted to burn 
them with the dwelling house, escaped in the stormy night, 
and crept to the house of Alonzo Bass, situated twelve miles 
distant, on the Calito. 

"The last that was seen of these Indian" says Kenney, 
"was in 1847, when a remnant of some eight or ten 
Caranchuas crossed the Rio Grande at its mouth, begging 
their way into Mexico and oblivion." "In the year 1855," 
adds Kuykendall, "the once formidable tribe of Caranchuas 
had dwindled to six or eight individuals, who were residing 
near San Fernando, State of Tamaulipas, Mexico." 



CHAPTER II. 



S we have seen, the principal and moist fe- 
rocious tribe with which Austin's colonists 
came in contact, on their arrival and for the 
first few years, were the Caranchuas. But 
it was not long before the Waccs, Tehua- 
canies and allied tribes, were depredating. 

In the Spring of 1824, a party of Wacos 
went down the Brazos as far ias the Kuy- 
kendall settlement, where they stole thir- 
teen head of Valuable horses, and escaped 
with their booty, having been pursued some forty miles to 
the head of Cummings Creek where the trail was lost. Fol- 
lowing this successful raid, the Wacos :again visited the set- 
tlements, and stole all the horses of Mr. John Cummings. 
4 SVe followed thie thieves as far as the Yegua, about fifty 
miles," says Kuykendall, " where we lost the trail in con- 
sequence of the great number of wild horses and buffalo 
which then ranged through that section of country." Many 
other depredations were committed by thesie Indians about 
this period, but details are too meager fotr record.* 



* In consequence of repeated thefts committed by the Wacos and Tehuacanies, Col. 
Austin, in July, 1S24, sent Capt. Aylett C. Buckner, with Judge Duke, James Baird, Thomas 
H. Borden, Selkirk, Jones and McCloskey, on a mission to treat with these tribes. They took 
with them some goods to barter with the Indians for horses. They crossed the Brazos at 
the San Antonio road and proceeded up tl e river on the east side to the Tehuacanie village, 
crossing over to the Waco village, the site of the present city of Waco. They were well re- 
ceived by the Indians, who had recently returned from their summer buffalo hunt, and were 
feasting on buffalo meat, green corn and beans. They had also pumpkins and melons. They 
dwelt in comfortable lodges, conical in shape, the frames of which were of cedar poles or 




36 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



In the Sprmg of 1826, Austin resolved to make a cam- 
paign against the Wacos and Tehuacauies, whose depreda- 
tions had now become frequent. Rendezvousing <xn the Bra- 
zos at the crossing of tfhe San Antonio road, about the mid- 
dle of May, a force of about -one hundred and ninety men 
was soctn collected and organized, Col. Austin in command, 
wdtni Aylett C. Buckner, Horatio Chrisman, Bartlett Sims, 
"William Hall and Ross Alley, captains of companies. 

The first days march brought the expedition to the Lit- 
tle Brazos, where they left 'all provisions, save rations for 
three days, and 'a forced march was ordered against the In- 
diaais. 

On arriving in the vicinity of the Indian encampment, 
scouts were sent to reconnoiter, and found it deserted. 
' 'Appearances" says Kuykendall, "indicated that the Tehua- 
canie village had been deserted about two weeks. The 
Waco village was on the west side of the river a little far- 
ther tup. We could not reach it, as the river was much 
swollen, but ascertained that it, too, Was uninhabited. The 
Indians were doubtless gone on a buffalo huoat. Their 
patches of corn were in silk and tassel. There was an 
abumdaaice of beans, of which we picked a mess or two, but 
nothing was destroyed." 

Thus disappointed and theCr rations being entirely ex- 
hausted, the .expedition returned to their smpply depot — and 
to the Brazos, where it was disbanded. 



EARLY TRIALS OF DeWITT'S COLONISTS. 

Early as 1822, while Austin's colony was yet in its in- 
fancy, several American gentlemen, among them Green De- 
Witt of Missouri, appeared in the city of Mexico, seeking 

slats, thatched with grass. The largest of these lodges (their council house) was fifty-nine 
paces in circumference. The Wacos and Tehuacanies spoke the same language, and were es- 
sentially the same people. Judge Duke estimated the two tribes would number between 200 
and 300 warriors. They had a great number of horses and mules— a small plug of tobacco be- 
ing the price of a horse, and a plug and a half that of a mule. They smoked the pipe of 
peace with the embassy, and pledged themselves to peace and amity with the colonists. The 
embassy remained with the Indians between two and three weeks, and returned home by the 
same route they went out."— Kuykendall's Reminiscences. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. ' * 87 



impresario contracts. Owing to the unsettled political 
conditions of the country at that period, Be Witt's peti- 
tion to settle four hundred families in the province .of Tex- 
as, was not approved till after the promulgation and enact- 
ment of the first general colonization law of Coahnila and 
Texas, March 24, 1825. 

Anticipating the success of his application, which was 
duly granted April 15, 1825, De Witt had pre-arranged with 
Major James Kerr, late of Missouri, but them of Austin's 
Colony, as agent and surveyor for the colony. 

Im August of this year, Major Kerr, (having recently 
buried 1 !his wife and two children on the Brazos), with his 
neg^o servant and six men, viz. Erasmus ("Deaf") Smith, 
Basil Durbin, Gerron Hinds, John Wightman, James Mu- 
sic and^'^ Strickland, leaving San Felipe de Austin reach- 
ed a spot on Kerr's Creek (near the present town of Gonzal- 
es), where they halted, speedily erected cabins and laid off 
a site for the capital of the/ future colony, wMch was 
named Gonzales, in honctr of Don Rafael Gonzales, the first 
Governor of CoahuUa and Texas. The location wavs most 
favorable, but the town itself was of slow growth and for 
a while of uncertain existence, -as will be seen. "The sur- 
vey of lands for future colonists, was prosecuted <as rapidly 
as possible," says Brown, "and a few weeks later, Francis 
Berry and family settled near the cr^ok. Of this family 
were also John and Betsey Oliver, grown children of Mrs. 
Berry by a former husband, 

About the first of October, DeWitt arrived from Sal- 
tillo, and remained! in the colony three or four weeks be- 
fore proceeding on 'his way to Missouri. During the year, a 
number of prospectors visited the country, ianld after selec- 
ting locations left, to return later. Thus these few brave 
settlers at old Gonzales in 1825-6, were truly »pioneers, the ad- 
vance guards of American civilization on that then remote 
and greatly exposed frontier, their nearest neighbors being 
DeLecn and haF a dotfen Mexicans, at the infant settlements 
of Guadalupe Victoria, sixty miles southward ; end with no 
roads- in any direction, save their own freshly made trail 



38 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



sixty-five miles -east to the Colorado. But the l ot of these 
isolated settlers was not in/tolerable, and would have speed- 
ily improved but for an unexpected calamity. Parties of 
Indians, professing friendship, frequently called, passing to 
and fro; and demonstrating no signs of hostility, the colo- 
nists apprehended no danger. '"Thus matters stood, " says 
'historian Brown, "whem the first day of July, 1826, arrived. 
There was a celebration of the fourth of July at Beason's, 
at the Atascocito crossing of the Colorado, a few miles be- 
low the present town of Columbus. Major Kerr had gone 
on a buffalo .hunt. It was agreed that Basil Durbin, John 
and Betsey Oliver, and Jack the servant boy of Kerr, should 
go on horseback to the Colorado celebration. They started 
on Sunday, July 2, and encamped for the night on Thome's 
Branch, fourteen miles east, having no apprehension of 
danger at the time. The little party however, were doom- 
ed to disappointment, for about midnigSit, while soundly 
sleeping en their blankets, they were suddenly aroused by 
the firing of guns and the yells of the Indians. Durbin 
was shot in the shoulder by a muskeit ball -and badly 
wauoided, but escaped with his companions into a thicket 
near by, the horses and other effects beimg left in the pos- 
session of the enemy. From loss of iblood and intense pain ? 
Durbin repeatedly swooned, but was restored by the efforts 
of his companions and enabled to walk, by noon cm. the fol- 
lowing day, back to Major Kerr's cabin, where the party 
was astonished to find John Wigihtman lying dead and 
scalped in the passage way between the rooms, and the 
house robbed of everything, iiwdudiing important papers amd 
three compasses, and that an unsuccessful attempt had been 
made to burn it. They hurried to Berry's cabin and found 
it closed, and on the door, written with charcoal, "Gone to 
Burnham's on the Colorado.' " 

"When Durbin and, his companions left on the previous 
day, Strickland, Musiek and Major Kerr 's negroes (Shade, 
Anise and thledr four or five children), went to Berry's to 
spend the afternoon, leaving Wightman alone at the cabins. 
Returning later in tihe day, they found "Wightman as de- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



39 



scribed, yet warm in his own blo/d. Hurrying back to 
Berry's witlh the tidings, the entire party started for the 
Colorado, wihiere they safely arxived, and were a few days 
later joined by Deaf Smith and Hindis.. Duribin's wounds 
bad already rendered him very weak, but his only alter- 
native was to reach the same place ion foot, or perisfh by 
the way. The weather was warm, and there was imminent 
danger of gangrene making its appearance in his wound, 
to prevent which, it was kept poulticed with mud and oak 
juice. Leaning on Betsey Oliver's arm, he arrived at Burn- 
ham's on the afternoon of the sixth, three days and a half 
after starting from the place." 

Durhin's wound soon healed, the musket ball remaining 
in his shoulder till death, and he lived to participate in a 
number of other adventures. Seven years later he received 
six rifle balls in his person at one time, and, as if he bore 
a -charmed life, survived, carrying seven balls in his body 
till hi® death in 1858. 

'Thus was De Witt's colony, like Austin's at the mouth of 
the Colorado, christened with bleed, and thus for the mo- 
ment ended the first efforts to found a settlement within 
its limits. 

Following these events, Major Kerr and a few compan- 
ions moved to a point on the west bank of the Lavaca, now 
in Jackson Goomfty, where block-houses were built, and a nu- 
cleus formed for the revival of the enterprise. The place, 
only temporarily occupied for defensive and rallying pur- 
poses, was subsequently known as the "Old Station." Major 
Kerr established his permanent home on the east bank of 
the Lavaca, near the station. 

On the 12th. of December, 1826, Major Kerr, under the 
authority invested in him as surveyor-general, commissioned 
Byrd Lockhart as deputy-surveyor of the colony — a judicious 
selection' — and the survey of land, despite danger frem hos- 
tile Indians, proeeeded with all reasonable dispatch, and emi- 
grants continued to arrive and locate near the station on the 
Lavaca. 

DeWitt, with his family, arrived at the "Old Station" 



40 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



in October, 1827, and during the succeeding whiter, with 
hie own and a number of other families, repaired to Gon- 
zales and' its vicinity, and then, with the opening of the 
year 1828, began- the permanent settlement of the region des- 
tined to become the Lexington of Texas in the revolution of 
1835-36.* 

As early as May, 1824, the Mexican Congress had pass- 
ed an act temporarily combining the provinces of Goahuila 
and Texas into a State, with a provisional legislature, (Don 
Rafael Gonzales being elected governor), and in March, 1825, 
as we have seetn, the newly formed government promulgated 
a general State colonization law. 

The fame and success of Austin and his colony, together 
with the more liberal provisions of the new colonization act, 
induced' a number of persons to seek empresario privileges. 
Among those who secured grants and fulfilled or attempted 
to carry out, their contracts, were Robert Leftwich, of Nash- 
ville, Tennessee, (permission April 15th, 1825, to settle 900 
families in what was afterwards known as Robertson's Colo- 
ny) ; Hay den Edwards, a Kentuekian, then resident of Louis- 
iana, (concession April 18th, 1825, to settle 800 families in the 
Nacogdoches district of east Texas) ; and Don Martin de 
Leon, a native Mexican, but then and stince 1805, residing in. 

♦ The venerable pioneer, Noah Smith wick, who visited DeWitt's Colony in the sum- 
mer of 1828, in a letter to the author from his last home at Santa Anna, California, a few 
months before his death (Oct. 21, 1899) gives the following pen picture of colonial life at that 
period: "The colonists, (DeWitt's) consisting of a dozen families, were living, if such ex- 
istence could be called living, huddled together for security against the Indians. The rude 
log cabins, windowless and f loorless, have been so often described as the abode of the pio- 
neer, as to require no description here; Buffice it to say that save as a partial protection 
against rain and sun, they were absolutely devoid of comfort. " " " " Cel. DeWitt, my host, 
had bread, though some of the families were without. Flour was $10.00 a barrel. But few 
people had money to buy anything more than coffee and tobacco. Money was as scarce as 
bread, Game was plentiful the year round, so there was no need of starving. Men talked 
hopeful of the future; children reveled in the novelty of the present, and the women bore 
their part with heroic endurance. Deprived of friends and former comforts, they had not 
even the solace of constant employment. The spinning wheel and loom had been left behind 
—there was as yet no use for them— there was nothing to spin. There was no house to keep 
in order; the meager fare was so simple as to require little time for its preparation. There 
was no poultry, no dairy, no garden, no books or papers— and had there been, many of them 
could not read; no sehools, no churches— nothing to break the dull monotony of their lives 
save an occasional attack from Indians, the howl of some wild animal, or the stampede of a 
herd of buffalo or mustangs. The men at least had the excitement of killing game and 
hunting bee trees, roping mustangs, hunting buffalo, locating lands and watching for hos- 
tile Indians." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



41 



the province of Texas, (concession of October 6th., 1825, to 
settle forty one Mexican familes, south of DeWrfctte colony, 
and' between the Lavaca and Guadalupe Rivers). A number 
of other concessions were made about this period to parties 
who failed of success, notably to Ben R. Milam, the famous 
4 'hero of San Antonio," to settle 200 familes north of the old 
San Antonio rioad, and between the Colorado and Gaudalupe 
Rivers. But brave Milam was a soldier, rather than civilian, 
and sacrificed his life in a more glorious cause — on the altar 
of liberty, falling in the moment of victory. Thus the spirit 
of colonization was infused throughout the whole southwest 
and a constant tide of immigration was flowing into Texas, 
giving to the country some assurance of permanent prosper- 
ity and stability. 



EDWARDS' COLONY AND THE FREDONIAN WAR. 

But in the midst of the general prosperity, a dark cloud 
arose in the east, which for a time, threatened the destruction 
of the province. "We refer to the Fredonian revolt in Ed- 
wards' Colony. Hayden Edwards had wealth and enterprise,, 
and intended to fill has contract in good faith; but his loca- 
tion proved exceedingly unfortunate. For a long time a rov- 
ing and migratory class of motley people, 'had occupied the 
country about Nacogdoches, " heroes of the Neutral Ground," 
men who, committing an offense, either in Mexican or Amer- 
ican territory, here sought an asylum. Here, too, an antago- 
nism had arisen between the Anglo-Ameriieans and the Mex- 
icans, created, perhaps, by the ill-fated filibustering expedi- 
tions of Nolan, Magee and Long. 

Edwards' contract required him not only to respect,, but 
to give preference to Mexican claimants. As soon as one of 
the new emigrants had made a selection and commenced an 
improvement, some Mexican would appear and set up a claim 
for his land. The alcalde was appealed tk>; but he, being 
elected by Mexican votes, invariably decided in favor of his 
constituents. At an election for a new alcalde, a majority 
of the votes cast were for Chaplin, a son-in-law of Edwards;; 



42 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



but Norris, who ai'though an American, was in the interest of 
the Mexicans, was counted in, and by order of the political 
chief, invested with the office. 'Ithus supported by the mili- 
tary, the tyranny of the alcalde soon became intolerable. 
Foote, the ihis'torian, and an intimate friend of Edwards, 
gives the following picture of that turbulent period : 

"Nacogdoches now became a iscene of wild uproar and 
confusion ; acts of lawless and cruel violence marked the his- 
tory of (every day, and indexed of every hour ; bands of Reg- 
ulators, as they were called, pervaded the whole country, 
under the ostensible sanction of the alcalde, and ready to 
-execute any mandate to which he might give utterance. Pri- 
vate familes were often driven from their habitations, to 
intake way for the piiraticai minions of the alcalde, who sigh- 
ed for the comforts which the honest assiduity of the colo- 
nists had assembled about their domiciles, and which they 
were too lazy and luxurious to acquire, except by violemoe ex- 
ercised upon their peaceful owners. Respectable colo/nists 
were dragged from their beds at midnight by 'an armed m!ob, 
and hurried before the alcalde, in order to undergo a secret in- 
quisition relative to acts that ithey had never so much as 
thought of committing; even the passing traveler was not 
free from; (molestation and outrage, but was compelled to pay 
tribute for tfhe privilege of transit through the country, un- 
der penalty of forfeiting whatever merchandise or other 
property that was found in his possession. " 

It was not to be expected that free born and liberty lov- 
ing Americans would tamely submit to such acts of injustice 
and tyrannical oppression. 

During the summer of 1826, Hay den Edwards visited 
ttlie United States to bring more colonists, leaving his broth- 
er, Benjamin Edwards, in charge of the colony. In the ab- 
sence of the empresario, serious Charges were preferred 
against him to Governor Blanco. On July 21st., Benjamin 
Edwards addressed empresario Austin ia long letter in 
which ihe recounted his grievances >and asked fo-r advice. In 
•due course /of time Austin gave Edwards a reply, in which 
lite said: "The sufbjeet has caused me great unhappiness, but 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



43 



I had decided not to interfere with it in any way. It is a 
dangerous one to touch, and particularly to write about. 
You wish me to advise you. I scarcely know what course 
will be best. Tftie uncertainty as to the 'precise nature of the 
charges against you, renders it difficult, nay impossible, to 
name a regular defense. I think, however, I would write di- 
rectly to the governor of lflne State. Give him a full state- 
ment of facts, and a very minute history of the -acts of 
your principal enemies and their opponents, and their man- 
ner of doing business in every particular, both in regard to 
your brother as well as all others." 

Accordingly, Benjamin Edwards directed a long, and, 
unfortunately, somewhat dictatorial message to his excellency, 
Governor Don Victor Blanco, vindicating his brother's 
course, and remonstrating' very emphatically against such 
treatment; to wihich that irate functionary, on the 20th day 
of October, replied — "That bv the virtue of the supreme 
authority with which he was invested, he had. decreed the 
annulment of the contract of Harden Edwards; and further 
more, ordered the expulsion from the colony, of bo till the Ed- 
wards 'brothers. ' 7 Haydcin Edwards returned just as the 
news of this high-handed and arbitary act reached the colo- 
ny. He had spent several thousand dollars in bringing colo- 
nists to the coumtry, and naturally became very indignant, 
resolving upon resistance and revenge vi et armis. 

At this juncture two celebrated half -breed Indian chiefs 
Richard Fieldst and John Dunn Hunter, appeared in the 
arena, with grievances of their own, in behalf of their peo- 
ple the Cherokees. Governor Trespalaeies had promised to 
secure them titles to the land they occupied, but the Mexi- 
can Government was slow in the excitement of the moment, 
and chafirg for revenge the colonists entered into a 
league, offensive and defensive with the Indians. 

This compact was formally signed on December 20, 
1826, by Hay den Edwards and Harmon B. Mayo, on the 
pari; of the Americans, and Richard Fields and John Dunn 
Hunter, on the part of the Indians. The allied parties at 
once proceeded to organize a legislative council. Martin 



44 



BOEDER WARS OF TEXAS, 



Parmer, better known as the "Ring-Tailed Panther" was 
elected president. 

In this alliance it was stipulated that the whites were 
to have the territory below the old San Antonio road and 
for a short distance above; the remainder of the province, 
westward to the Rio Grande, was given to the Indians. 
Slavery, which had been prohibitejcfin Mexico, was to be es- 
tablished in both territories. 

Denominating themselves ' 'Fredonians/' the injured in- 
surgents raised the standard o? revolt, and boldly declared 
their independence. The flag of Independent Fredonia was 
unfurled to the breeze, and, "doubtless" says the histo- 
rian of this ill-planned and hopeless revolt, "Old Norther, 
himself, who so often swept over the prairies of Texas, 
stood aghast at the chilling exhibition," 

One of the first acts of the executive council created ait 
Nacogdoches, was to depose the alcalde, Norms, and appoint 
another. "While these troubles were brewing, Peter E. Bean, a 
survivor of Nolan's expedition, and whose life history reacLs 
like a romance, was stationed at Fort Teran, as Indian agent. 
Learning of these troubles. Bean, with a small company of 
cavalry, marched upon Nacogdoches for the purpose of quell- 
ing the disturbance and to restore Mexican authority. Bean 
did not seem to apprehend that he would have much diffi- 
culty. He, however, found the disturbance more serious 
than anticipated, and on learning that the Fred oarians, about 
two hundred strong, were occupying the old stone fort, 
prudentlv decided to wait for a reinforcement from San An- 
tonio. In the meantime, he succeded in detaching most of 
the Indians from the league. Fields and Hunter, however, 
were faithful to the last, and were barbarously assassina- 
ted by the very tribes for whose welfare they had labored 
long and patiently. The assassin's first shfot not proving 
immediately fatal, poor Hunter implored the murderer to 
spare his life, exclaiming/ 1 it is- hard thus to die by the 
hands of my professed friends." The appeal was in vain. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 45 



Another shot closed the career of this -strange and extraor- 
dinary man. 

Newts Oif the revolt reaching Bexar, Governor Saueedo 
dispatclued Col. Matio Ahum a da, with two hundred soldiers 
to suppress the insurrectionists. The part which Austin took 
in this affair has excited! a good deal of comment and sorme 
severe criticism. Historian Foctie, who was a warm friend 
of the Edwards', conveys the idea that Austin was greatly 
perplexed and hesitated long whether hie would join the 
Fredonian movement or make war against it. Such was not 
the fact. On the contrary, he advised the leaders of this re- 
volt that their cause was one of consummate folly, and 
that they were rushaoig upon certain destruction. Indeed, 
as an, honorable and true citizen of his adopted country, he 
could not have' done otherwise. In siuch a controversy, neu- 
trality was impossible, and instead of hestitating a moment, 
Austin, on the 22nd. day of January, 182*7, issued the follow- 
ing address: 

To the Inhabitants of the Colony: 

The persons* who were sent on from this colony by the 
political chief and military commandant, to offer peace to 
the Nacogdodhes madmen, have returned without having ef- 
fected anything. Tihe olive branch of peace which was held 
out to them has been insultingly refused, and that party 
has denounced massacre and dissolution on tihis colony. 
They are trying to excite all the northern Indians to mur- 
der and plunder, and it appears as though) they have no 
otOner object than to ruin, and plunder this country. They 
openly threaten us with Indian massacre and the plunder of 
our property. To arms, thien, my friends and fellow-oiti- 
zens, and hasten to the standard of our country. Tlie first 
hundred mien will march on the 26th. Necessary orders for 
mustering and other purposes will he issued to the com- 



* Austin sent a delegation of citizens— A bner Kuykendall, Judge Ellis, Francis W. 
Johnson, and James Cummings— from his colony, accompained by James Kerr from De- 
Witt's colony, to confer and fraternally remonstrate with the Fredonians, and endeavor to 
dissuade them from rash measures. The delegation failed to accomplish the object desired. 



46 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



mamding officers. Union and Mexico ! 

S. F. Austin. 
San Felipe do Austin, 

22nld. January, 1827. 

The new® iof Colonel Ahumada's approach completely 
demoralized the Fredonians. T li e y miscalculated their 
strength. No- hielp reachied them from! the settlement of 
Pecan Point, on Red River, nor from Ayish Bayou. But 
they were still more chagrined at the course of Austin's 
colony, and hastily retreated across the Sabine, leaving- a few 
o f their partisans, who were captured' byl the Mexicans. 
And now it was that Austin exerted his influence to gooid 
purpose ; instead of putting them to death, taceordinig to 
the custom, they were, at his earnest solicitation, pardoned 
and set at liberty. This magnanimous conduct called forth 
a letter from Edwards, in which he returned grateful 
thanks to Ahumada for his humanity. 

And thus this unfortunate rebellion passed away and 
was numbered with the things that were. 



CHAPTER III. 



EFEATED in almost every engagement, 
and melting away before the unerring rifles 
of Austin's colonists, the formidable coast 
tribe^ — the Caranohuas — had been forced 
to retreat and sue for peace. DeWitt's 
Colony, surviving the serious) misfortunes 
which befell it in the Summer of 1826, was 
rapidly taking on new life and energy. 
The Fredonian mutiny did not seriously 
affect or retard the growth of Austin's Colony, and 
with its quelling a period of comparative peace and 
prosperity prevailed. But this state of quiet was not 
of long duration. The Wacos and Tehuacanies who had been 
more -or less troublesome all along, now became openly hostile 
and were depredating on the settlers of the Brazos and Col- 
orado, to an alarming extent. " Indeed" says Y,oakum, "the 
grant of Milam, laying between the Guadalupe and Colorado 
Rivers, and north of the Bexar road, could not well be set- 
tled because of hostile Indians." 

In the winter of 1828-9, a party of these Indians enter- 
ed Fayette county, camping — so the bluffs would protect 
them from the chilling winds — in the bed of Ross Creek; 
where they might have remained undisturbed had they not 
killed a worjtihy Mexican resident of the neighborhood. 
"Whereupon a party consisting of James Tomlinson, J. J. 
Ross, A. A. Anderson, John %yer and others, attacked and 
routed the murderous intruders, killing eight of them out- 




48 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



right, and severely wounding seven more, who managed to 
escape, but perished soon, it was supposed, as only one of 
this unfortunate party was known to have reached his tribe.* 

' 'When the Indians; were attacked," says J. J. Ross, 
who furnished the above facts, 4 4 some wene lying down, 
some parching coin, and others were engaged in a scalp 
dance. An attempt was made to burn the bodies of the dead 
Indians, but with poor success — only crisiping their skins. 
Their bleaching bones long remained on the battle ground." 

About this time one Thomas Thompson opened a small 
farm near the present town of Bastrop, and occasionally 
visited it to cultivate and take care of his crops. On going 
*here in July, 1829, he found the Indians in possession. Re- 
turning below for assistance he was joined by ten men with 
whom he approached the Indian camp at night. At day- 
light they killed fcur of the savages and routed the others. 

Of course these affairs were unfortunate and served to 
increase hostilities — Yoakum says they opened the war. At 
any rate, ''numerous cases of murder and theft had occur- 
red, and it became necessary to apply a remedy" — which 
empresario Stephen Austin promptly did. 



THE WAR OPENS AGAINST THE WILD TRIBES. 

Captain Abner Kuykendall:- 

The Indians have robbed a large drove of horses from 
a traveler whio stopped at Rat cliff's on the Lavaca. They 
were pursued two days by a few men and overtaken be- 
tween the Colorado and Brazos, below the San Antonio road. 
1 There was one white man — supposed to be an American — 
and fifteen Indians. It is highly important that the trail 
should be followed so as to ascertain what Indians and 
white man or men have become so base as to commit this 
depredation; and to punish them— also recover the horses. 

A party of volunteers is ready at Beason's to follow the 
robbers, and a number will go from here. It is their wish 
and also mine, that you take the command; and I hope and 



♦ Statement of Mr. Pennington, an Indian trader, then among this tribe. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



49 



expect that you will undertake the expedition if your 
health will permit. 

I hereby authorize you in the name of the Government, 
and of the civil authorities, whom I have consulted, to take 
the command of said party of volunteers, and to pursue and 
kill said robbers, be they Indians or whites, and to recover 
the stolen horses, and do such other acts as in your judg- 
ment be deemed necessary, equitable and proper, to punish 
the robbers and afford security to our exposed and scatter- 
ed settlements, by making a severe and striking example 
which will have the effect to prevent the repetition of simi- 
lar outrages by the lawless; bands who are moving through 
these unsettled wilds. 

You will, however, be cautious of offending innocent 
persons, as you will be responsible for any wanton cruelty 
committed by your men while acting by your orders, on the 
innocent. You will keep a journal of your proceedings and 
report same to me on your return. 

Town of Austin, August 23, 1829. 

Stephen F. Austin, Col. of Ma. 

This order was received by Capt. Kuykendall the even- 
ing of the same day it was written, and in obedience there- 
to, with his two sons, William and Barzillai, he left on the 
ensuing morning for the Colorado, where he arrived the 
same day and was joined by eight men — "most of whom 
were old frontiersmen" — to-wit: Norman Woods, John F. 
Berry, Elijah Ingram, John Williams, Thomas Thompson, 
Seaborn Jones, .... Hazlitt, and one not remembered. 



FIERCE FIGHT NEAR THE OLD CABIN. 

"We now counted eleven," says Kuykendall, whose nar- 
rative we follow, "and resolved to pursue the Indians with- 
out losing further time to increase our force. We forded 
the Colorado at the crossing of the La Bahia road and pro- 
ceeded eight or nine miles up the river, when about noon, 
we discovered people moving about an old cabin. As we 
knew the inhabitants of this neighborhood had, some time 
previously, been driven from their homes by the Indians, 



50 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



this 'circumstance excited some surprise, and Hazlitt and 
another man were dispatched on foot towards the cabin to 
ascertain the character of its visitors. The rest of us sat 
in our saddles, concealed by a point of woods. 

"In order to approach near the house, Hazlitt and his 
companion had to pass throug h a cornfield. They had not 
proceeded far in the field when an Indian shot an arrow at 
Hazlitt, and raising a war whoop, fled to the cabin. As he 
ran straight between the rows of corn, Hazlitt shot him in 
the back. The instant we heard the alarm we galloped for- 
ward and saw five Indians on foot, running up the river, 
trying to reach a thicket on its bank, two or three hun- 
dred yards above the cabin. Spurring our horses to their 
best speed, we intercepted them a short distance below the 
thicket. As we dismounted, each man dropped the coil of 
his tethering rope from the pommel of his saddle and 
charged the Indians on foot. They were now compelled to 
fight us in the open prairie or leap down the precipitous 
bank of the rher. They chose the latter alternative. Nor- 
man Woods shot one as he was in the act of leaping off the 
bluff. 'The remaining four threw away their arrows and 
plunged into the Colorado. As they swam toward the oppo- 
site shore, we plied them with two or three rounds of rifle 
balls, and sank two midway the river. The remaining two 
reached the opposite shore with mortal wounds from which 
we could distinctly see the blood flowing. One of them 
uttered a few words in a very loud voice and almost in- 
stantly afterward our ears were assailed with terrific yells 
from the thicket above us, accompanied by a flight of ar- 
rows and discharge of fire arms. Turning toward our un- 
expected assailants, we saw several of them running toward 
our horses. We also ran in the same direction, and all the 
Indians, except two, returned to the thicket. These two 
Indians succeeded in reaching our horses, of which each se- 
lected and mounted one and drove all the rest save two, be- 
fore them — yelling and firing off their guns to frighten the 
horses and urge them to greater speed. The two men whose 
horses were left, mounted them and pursued the Indians, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



51 



the rest cf us following as fast as possible on foot. After 
trailing nearly a mile and a half we discovered our horses 
standing in a grove. Suspecting a ruse, we approached 
them with caution, but found no enemy. 

"Having now recovered all our horses but two (those of 
Thompson and Williamson), wt returned to the scene of 
action. Every Indian had disappeared. The one shot by 
Woods was still alive, sitting under the bank. Deeming it 
an act of mercy to put an end to his suffering, Woods shot 
him in the head. 

"After collecting the arms cf the defeated Indians, 
consisting of bows and arrows and one or two shot guns, 
we went into the field to look for the Indian shot by Haz- 
iitt. We did not find him, but picked up his belt which 
had been cut in two by the rifle ball. This satisfied us 
that he had received a mortal wound. His body was after- 
wards found outside the field. The remains of the two who 
reached the opposite side of the river were also found af- 
terwards — making six killed. Not one cf cur party was 
hurt, though Berry, after the engagement, fainted from the 
effect of heat and' over-exrtion 

"There were at least forty or fifty cf these Indians — 
Wacos and Tawacanies. They were well provided with 
ropes and bridles, and had doubtless come on a stealing ex- 
pediticn. The survivors left the Colorado without commit- 
ting any depredations. 

"As we were reduced to but nine mounted men, two of 
whose horses were already broken down, we were constrain- 
ed to forego the pursuit of the thieves who had stolen the 
eavallada, and returned home. That evening we traveled 
about five miles on our return, and slept, at a spring about 
three miles above the present town of La Grange.'' 



THE SAN SABA EXPEDITION. 

Immediatelv after arriving home and reporting to Col. 
Austin, Capt. Kuykendall received the following order: 

"You will call a muster of your company and] endeavor 



52 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



to raise volunteers to go against the Indians. If you can- 
not get volunteers enough to make -one fourth the number 
of men composing your company, you will raise them by 
draft. You will rcndezvouis at this place with at least one 
fourth the men composing your company, on the 12th. of 
September next, armed and equipped as the law directs, 
with previsions for a campaign of forty days. By order 
of S. F. Austin. Oliver Jones, Adjt." 

Capt. Abner Kuykendall. 

Similar orders were issued to Bartlett, Simms and oth- 
er captains of the militia in the colony. "About the same 
time, but without concert," says John Henry Brown, "a 
company of thirty -nine men of DeWitt's Colony, under 
Capt. Henry S. Brown, left Gonzales cn a mission against 
the depredating hostiles, supposed to be in the mcron- 
tains." 

The contingents cf the different companies from Aus- 
tin's Colony, rendezvoused on the east side of the Colorado 
about twelve miles below the present town of La Grange, 
where, between the 15th. and 20th. of September, the re- 
quired force of one hundred men was collected and organ- 
ized, under the command of Abner Kuykendall. 

Striking the San Gabriel, the expedition marched up 
that stream — scouring the country between the Brazos and 
Colorado — and across the country to a point near the head 
of what is now known as the Salt Fork of the Lampasas, 
and some thirty miles from the mouth of the San Saba; 
where it halted and sent out spies to locate the encampment 
of the Indians. 

Returning on the second morning, the spies reported a 
large encampment on the west bank of the Colorado, two or 
three miles below the mouth of the San Saba, and "that 
they were engaged in a dance, as they could distinctly hear 
the sound of a sort of castinet which the Indians used on 
such occasions." 

It was evident the Indians were not aware of the ap- 
proaching forces, and planning a night march, Kuykendall 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



53 



determined, if possible, to make a surprise attack at day- 
light the following morning. At sundown the command 
was in motion and on the march. "We quote from Kuyken- 
dall:- "Night soon closed around us. There was no moon 
but the sky was cloudless and starry. Our route lay over a 
prairie, studded with low hills, and in some places: very 
rocky. Hour after hour the long double files of horsemen 
foil-owed the guide. There was no confusion in our ranks, rare- 
ly was a word spoken, yet our march was far from being 
noiseless. The hard, metamorphic limestone rang like met- 
al beneath the tread of our horses, and ever and anon 
we invaded the domain of a community of rattlesnakes, of 
which we were promptly notified by rapid vibrations of 
their rattles. Our guide conducted us toward nearly every 
point of the compass, and at length, long after midnight, 
declared he was bewildered and could conduct us no fur- 
ther until daylight. All now suspected the fidelity of our 
guide — a Mexican who had once lived) with the Wacos and 
Tawacanies. Perhaps he was actuated by cowardice, per- 
haps by revived affection for his quandom friends; but 
whatever his motives, it is highly probable that but for 
his cor duct the expedition would have been completely 
successful." 

Still anxious to effect a surprise attack, Kuykendall 
concealed his force in a dense cedar-brake to await another 
night, meanwhile sending out six of his men, Wm. Dever, 
Amos Gates, Sebe Jones, Jeff Prayer and one other, with a 
Chickasaw Indian, named John, on foot to explore a route 
to the Colorado River and locate a crossing. 

They had proceeded about one and one half miles, 
when they were discovered by twenty-five mounted In- 
dians, who charged upon them, yelling like demons. It 
was a hard race and a miraculous escape for the spies,who 
by making repeated stands and runs, succeeded in reach- 
ing their companions and giving the alarm. "Meantime" 
says Kuykendall, "the loud cries of the Indians had 
been heard at our camp and the whole command was 
hastening to the rescue. When William Dever per- 



54 



BOEDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ceived that succor was close at hand' he shot, and it was 
believed, mortally' wounded one of the Indians. At this mo- 
ment -our whole force came up, and the Indians fled at full 
speed. Following in rapid pursuit, the village was soon dis- 
covered in a bend >of the river, almost concealed by a low 
wooded hill— the valley around being almost literally cov- 
ered with mounted Indians — men, women -and children, fly- 
ing to the yellow cedar-brakes in the adjacent hills.' 7 

The Texans dashed across the river, and into the vil- 
lage, but most of the Indians had fled and but few shots 
were fired, one by Nestor Clay, killing an Indian, a Tehua- 
canie chief. 

Detachments were sent in pursuit but the Indians had 
escaped to their mountain, fastnesses; only a few women 
and children were overtaken, who were of course unmo-. 
lested. 

The Indians lest their entire camp equipage, includ- 
ing a considerable amount of corn, blankets, robes, brass 
kettles, etc., and a large number of horses, all of which was 
•secured by the victors. 

"We encamped upon the ground evacuated by the In- 
dians," says Kuykendall. "Their conical, buffalo skin cov- 
ered lodges were still standing, and within them we found 
their entire store of winter provisiops, namely, several hun- 
dred bushels of com and beans, and a quantity of dried buf- 
falo meat. Many buffalo robes were also found and on the 
fires were still boiling, several kettles of corn and beans — 
sll of which property was consigned to the flames, or other- 
wise destroyed. The site of this encampment was very beau- 
tiful and had apparently often been temporarily occupied by 
the Indians; but there were no traces of agricultural oper- 
ations. Early the ensuing morning, Captain Henry Brown, 
with a company of thirty men from; Gonzales rode into 
camp." 

"He had discovered the camp," says John Henry 
Brown, "secreted his men, put out concealed watches, and, 
like Kuykendall, expected to attack at dawn the following 
morning. He had passed through the mountains on the east 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



55 



side of the -Guadalupe, across the Piede-males and Llano, to 
the head of the San Saba. He encountered two small bands. 
I'U the first he killed' three Indians. Near the Enchanted Rock, 
he surprised the second band. Five or six Indian , Ml, the 
remainder escaped into the dense brush. Both appeared to 
be only hunting'' parties of warriors. It was on this trip 
that Captain Brown, with his men, became the fir t discov- 
erers of the Enchanted Rock. He had followed the San Saba 
down to its mouth, and/ a little below discovered 1 the In- 
dian encampment. Neither Birown nor Kuykendall knew 
of the other being in that section until after the attack 
upon, and routing? of the Indians." 

Such bold expeditions by such sagacious Leaders went 
far toward keeping the Ind/ians in check, but it was im- 
possible to effectively protect the long line of exposed 
frontier, and bands of hostile marauders, were constantly 
scooping down, and slipping in, stealing, killing, and then 
quickly retreating, back to their mountain homes. 



EARLY BORDER CHIEFS. 

The commanders of these early expeditions boldly pene- 
trating so far into the Indian country, as they did, deserve 
at least further brief notice. 



Abne* Kuykendall was one of the very early set tier si in 
Austin's Colony, having emigrated from Arkansas Territory, 
and camped on the west side of the Brazos River, at the La 
Bahia road crossing,, on Nov. 26, 1821. 

About the first of January, 1822, he settledi more per- 
manently on New Year's Creek, some ten miles west of the 
Brazos, and abowt four miles south of the present town of 
Independence. 

Kuykendall brought several head of cattle and a few 
hog's to the colony. He was extensively known and highly 



56. 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



esteemed by his fellow colonists as a brave and worthy gen- 
tleman. He was early appointed 1 Captain of Militia a'nd 
served m most o'f the campaigns and expeditions against 
Indians during the colonial period. 



The following letter gives briefly the facts of the tragic 
and deplorable fate of this.' early pioneer and venerable pa- 
triarch of Austin's' Colony.- 

1117 Bell Ave., Houston, Texas. 

James T. DeShields, Esq., 

Farmersville, Texas. 
My Dear Sir: 

Yours of Dec. 6th received and contents noted. In re- 
ply will say Capt. Abner Kuykendall was killed in 1834 &t 
San Felipe, by a man named Clayton, who was. hung for 
the crime — his beinig the second of the only two legal ex- 
ecutions for murder in Austin's Colony. Kuykendall was 
stabbed in the ne»ck with a knife which broke off, and' he 
died of lockjaw. 

Clayton was a Mississippian. He was raised by an aunt 
living near Natchez. He killed a .cousin in Mississippi in 
1832 or 1833, and ran away to Texas. His aunt heard of his 
last trouble and came to San Felipe in 1834, but when she 
found how he had killed Kuykendall, she returned home 
without seeing him. Mrs. Clayton stayed at my father's 
house while here. 

I knew Joe Kuykendall, a brother — was a prisoner with 
him in 1836, and knew him many years! after, until his 
death in Fort Bend county. He came to Texas in 1822. 
Hoping the information may profit you, 

Yours truly, 

J. R. Fenn. 



Capt. Kuykendall'® place of nativity and date of birth 
are .unknown — his wife was a daughter of Owen Shanon, and 
a sister of John and Jacob Shanon. Two of her nephews, 
Matthew and Jacob, may yet survive. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



57 



Henry Stephenson Brown was born in Madison county, 
Kentucky, March 8, 1793, and in December, 1824, in compa- 
ny with his brother, John, afterwards known as "Waco" 
Brown, landed at the month ot the Brazos with a large stock 
of goods for the Mexican and Indian trade. Engaged in this 
hazardous business 1 at that period, it is but natural that 
they should encounter many dangers and participate in nu- 
merous thrilling adventures, the details of which would fill 
a volume. We make brief extracts) from the 1 biographies of 
these brave and worthy pioneers, and early defenders of in- 
fant Texas: "In 1825 Capt. Brown sent his brother with 
d large cargo of goodisi to trade with the C oman ches in the 
upper icountry. James Musick, Thomas Jamison and An- 
drew Scott went with him. They succeeded in reaching 
Clear Fork of the Brazosi River, without being molested and 
found! the Indians very friendly, and anxious to trade. And 
soon they were wending their way homeward with eleven 
hundred horses and mules, aud as many buffalo robes as 
they could manage, on their pack mules. The Indians as- 
sisted them a day or two> on their way, and on the fourth 
night they icamped on the Brazos, about where the pres- 
ent town of Meridian stands. All retired congratulating 
themselves upon the success o>f their expedition, and,' what 
was their .surprise, when midnight yells., amdJ the firing' of 
guns disturbed their quiet slumbers. All sprang to [their 
feet. Mr. Brown, being a cripple from white swelling, fell 
over one of his companions. All thinking that he was 
dead, fled into the bottom. Brown secreted himself in 
some brush nearby, where he remained until dayligM, nat- 
urally thinking that his companions would do likewise. 
But to his dismay, he found himself all alone, lame, and 
weak, without food ; yet with a brave resolution he started, 
limping homeward. After traveling for three days, with 
blistered feet and* aching heart, and almost famishing, he 
was! suddenly surrounded by a band of Waco Indian's. Most 
of them seemed anxious to kill him but some pleadled for his 
life, which wasi spared on account of his lameness. He was 
then mounted and icarriedf to their principal village, where 



58 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the present city of Waco isi located. His companions, sup- 
posing that he fell dead, traveled all the first night, and 
concealed themselves in thickets during the day. In this 
manner they traveled until they reached! .the settlements, 
where they reported) the death of Brown and their great lots® 
of property. 

"Simultaneously with this expedition, was Capt. Brown s 
first trip to' Mexico, but fortunately with much better suc- 
cess, as he returned in a few months with a Large number 
of horses and mules for the Louisiana and! Mississippi trade, 
and <a considerable amount of Mexican coin. On reaching 
San Felipe, he heard of the sad fate of his brother, but had 
a presentimenf that he still lived, and resolved upon his 
rescue. In a short time after his arrival, he started with 
forty-one volunteers in search of his brother. On arriv- 
ing at the Waco village, he found them hostile, and at- 
tacked them. After some resistance, and killing several of 
their number, they fled, and nine of them were shot while 
crossing the river. Heavy rains prevented further pursuit, 
and in fact gave much difficulty in returning home, owing 
to the boggy condition of the country through which they 
passed, now embracing) the coimtie .< of Mddtam, Burleson and 
Lee. 

"While halting on the Medina River, he was attacked 
by twelve Tehuaciana Indians who had followed, and intend- 
ed! rohbinig him. In the fight he killed several, and the oth- 
ers flecT. 

"Resuming his vocation, Captain Brown made a second 
trip into Mexico, audi returned in the fall of 1826 with sev- 
eral hundred horses. 

"While halting at San Felipe, a ma>n wasi discovered ap- 
proaching rapidly from the west. He seemed to be an In- 
dian riding on horseback. Dashing up, he suddenly reined 
his hor c e, dismounted and sprang toward Capt. Brown, ex- 
claiming, 'Brother Henry, don't you know me?' He was 
the lost audi mourned brother. Briefly he explained his 
eighteen months' captivity; how he had! tried every means of 
escape until he had succeeded while with a company of 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



59 



seventeen on Cummings Creek, new in Fayette County — 
,the band having come down to rob and kill the settlers. 
Now was the opportunity — with his own well armed party 
and a few volunteers, about 20 in all, Capt. Brown rode all 
night and at daylight the following morning, surprised the 
Indians killing all except one who escaped to carry tidings 
of the fate of his comrades to his people on the Brazos." 

With varying success Capt. Brown continued his busi- 
ness as a trader, making frequent trips to and from Mexi- 
co. The sequel to one of his return trips is thus given by 
his son and biographer — John Henry Brown — "In the month 
.of December, 1828, Capt. Brown was returning from a 
trading expedition to Mexico, having as the proceeds of 
his venture, about 500 horses and a considerable amount of 
silver in rawhide wrappers. He had with him nine Mexi- 
can ranchers, a faithful Cherokee Indian, named Luke, and 
two or three Americans. At night on the road between San 
Antonio and Gonzales, his animals were stampeded and 
driven off by a party of hostile Indians, leaving a portion 
of his men on foot. He repaired to Gonzales and increased 
his force to twenty nine men. With these he moved leisure- 
ly up the country through the mountains, and finally cross- 
ed the Colorado a little above the mouth of Pecan Bayou, 
into the present territory of Brown County, hoping to sur- 
prise an Indian village, and recover his own or an equal 
number of horses and mules. 

"He suddenly came upon an encampment almost desti- 
tute of horses, and scarcely any women or children. Quite 
a fight ensued, the defiant Indians, killing one of Brown's 
Mexicans, besides wounding several of his men slightly. But 
several Indians falling, the balance suddenly fled into the 
creek bottom. 

"Capt. Brown, still anxious to find the object of his 
search, traveled westerly till night, and encamped. Dur- 
ing the night some of the guard discovered a camp fire 
apparently about two miles distant. As day dawned the 
party mounted, and moving cautiously, struck the village 
just as it was light enough to see. Six of the Mexicans, un- 



60 ; BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



der prior instructions, stampeded 1 the Indians' horses'. The 
ether twenty three men cowered the rear, and prepared for 
battle. Forty or fifty mounted Indians made pursuit and 
heavy skirmishing ensued, until tour or five warriors had 
been tumbled from their horses. They drew off until re- 
inforced by about as many more who, however, made no 
attack, but traveled parallel with the retreating party, oc- 
casionally showing themselves, till the sun went down. 
But -all this time the horses had been pushed in a gallop, 
and rendered too tired to be easily stampeded at night — 
the forlorn hope of the enemy." 

Thus the retreat continued by day and night, till the 
party arrived at Gonzales in January, 1829, with the booty 
— some 500 head of horses — which were equally divided 
.among the captors. 

Capt. Brown died at Columbia, Texas, July 26, 1834, 
and rests from his toils within a few feet of Josiah H. 
Bell, and the once noted Capt. Bird Lockhart. 



MURDER OF ELIJAH ROARK. 

Among other early and worthy colonists on the Brazos 
was Elijah Roark, a native of North Carolina, who removed 
with his family w m a large wagon drawn by six mules" and 
settled on Oyster Creek, in 1824. 

Frugal and industrious, ,his efforts were scon rewarded 
with crop yields and an increasing stock of cattle, hogs, 
etc.. At that time San Antonio, some 230 miles distant, with 
but two- small settlements en route, — at the crossing of the 
Colorado, and at Gonzales, — was the nearest and in fact, 
the only market in Texas. About the 10th. of December, 
1829, Mr. Roark, with one man and his little son, Leo, left on 
his annual market trip with about 100 fat hogs and a wag- 
on load of butter, cheese, baccn, lard, soap, candles and va- 
rious other things, which they expected to exchange for dry 
goods, coffee, sugar, salt and other family supplies. 

Travelirtg slow to' avoid; fatigue of the porkers, the lit- 
tle party reached the " Forty Mile Water Hole" — that dis- 
tance short of San Antonio — where they camped for the 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



61 



night of Dee. 24, little thinking of the fate that was so 
soon to befall them. After supper and a pleasant converse 
on former Yule-tide pleasures, the usual preparations were 
made for the night — intending an early morning start. We 
give the sad sequel as told by Leo Roark himself: "One man 
was to keep guard while the other two slept. Father kept 
the first watch, and the other man the second. I went on 
guard about two o'clock, putting on my shoes and hat. The 
weather had been very warm, but while I was sitting by 
the camp fire, the wind began to blow from the north. It 
was getting cold, so I put on my coat, took my gun and 
kni^e, and walked a short distance. There was a large log 
near the road about 100 yards from the camp. Father told 
me I must walk past the log and turn back. I got to the 
log and was afraid to pass it. I thought I would go back 
and wake Father. The mules were staked near, and they 
were so restless I knew there was something wrong. Be- 
fore I get back the Indians surrounded the camp. I shot 
at them and this woke the men. They did not get on their 
feet before they were murdered. I tried to catch a mule 
that was tied to a stake, but could net get near the mule. 
I laid down my gun and tried to cut the rope, but could 
not as the Indians were so near I had to run. I lost my 
hat, knife and gun. I was west of the camp and knew the 
way to San Antonio. Leaving the road, I ran into the mes- 
quite thickets and did not look back ncr stop to rest till 
daylight. Being very thirsty I could find no water, but ate 
mesquite beans. I traveled ai 1 day and late in the evening 
f ound water. Here I rested a few moments, but was afraid 
to lay down as I was so tired and sleepy. With much ef- 
fort I continued my journey and arrived in San Antonio 
Vte in the night. The Mexicans were celebrating Christ- 
mas. Next day I got assistance and returned to bury my 
father. Arriving at the camp it was a horrblie sight, both 
men stripped and scalped, the wagon burned, the mules 
carried off., and everything taken or destroyed. 

"After burying the dead, we built a log pen over the 
graves to prevent the wolves from, digging them up — the 



62 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



"burning of the wagon scared the wolves away, or they 
would have devoured the bodies." 

It was three months before Leo returned home — with a 
company of Mexican soldiers on their way t* Nacog- 
doches. The f amily did not hear of the death of Mr. Roark 
and companion till then. 'The news was a great shock, 
and a source of sorrow to all the neighborhood. 

Brown's narrative of this affair — History of Texas, 
Vol. 1, pp. 159-61 — while supplying some important details, 
is difficult to reconcile with the above absolutely reliable 
account, and is evidently erroneous. Leo Roark 's state- 
ment, which we have followed, was copied from the journal 
of Dr. Pleasant W. Rose, as written therein under date of 
January, 1834. Do* Rose's daughter, "Mrs. Dilue Harris, in 
her reminiscences, based on this journal, says: "Mrs. 
Roark was a widow four years, .and had a large family, tw.o 
grown sons, twin daughters, one daughter grown, two lit- 
tle children, a boy named Andrew, and a girl born several 
months after the death of the father. I lived by the Roarks 
three years, and went to school with the two brothers, Jack- 
son and Leo. Mrs. Roark could not talk about the death of 
her husband, but her son, Leo, ..eft en spoke about it; re- 
membering the horrible scene he passed through; during that 
eventful Christmas. ' ' 

Brown's narrative cannot be correct. He says Robert 
Spears and Andrew Cox were killed, and that David Mc- 
Cormick escaped and rode with Leo to San Antonio. Rea- 
son was from the Colorado, and was killed by Indians — per- 
haps about the same time Roark was murdered. McCormick 
was probably in San Aatonio when Leo arrived there. At 
that time it was almost impossible to get correct news. It 
would be months before events happening near San Anto- 
i?io would be heard at Brazoria. 

Season's father settled where the town of Columbia 
now stands. The: place was called Beason's Ferry. Santa 
Anna with his forces crossed the Colorado at Beason's in 
1836. 

Of the brave boy, Leo, 'it may be said he lived to parti- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. ~' 63 



cipate in several Indian fights, and other stirring events of 
our history; the affair at Anahuae in 1832; the battles 
around San Antonio in 1835, and in the battle of San Ja- 
cinto. He married a, Miss Pevyhcuse, and reared a large 
and respectable family. In 1893, sixty three years after 
the awful tragedy of that eventful Christmas night, this 
venerable pioneer died in Ellis County, Texas, full of years 
and of honors. 




CHAPTER IV. 



HE year 1830 marks the beginning of an 
important era in the political history of 
Texas. Heretofore, during the first years 
of colonial existence, the American set- 
tlers had been left undisturbed save by the 
hostile tribes of Indians who had constant- 
ly harassed them on all sides, as we have 
seen. But much vigilance had been exer- 
cised by Austin iand other empresarios in 
repelling and punishing the savages; and 
now that the population of the several colonies and settle- 
ments were rapidly increasing, they were better able to 
cope with the common foe. 

But now it was that another and most serious draw- 
back to the colonies occurred. Ever jealous of their grasp- 
ing neighbors on the north, and presumably fearing a too 
rapid increase in the American population of coveted Tex- 
as, on April the 6th. of this year, the Mexican Government, 
now dictated by the arrogant, unprincipled and liberty 
hating military chieftain, President Anastasia Bustamente, is- 
sued the famous and infamous decree — the eleventh article 
of which virtually prohibited further immigration into Tex- 
as from the United States. 




BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



65 



As might have been expected, this act spread gloom 
over the colonists, many of whom, coming in advance, had 
been industriously occupied in making preparations for 
the arrival, and, to sor.e degree, the comfort of others — 
in many instances the wife and children; and coming thus 
without previous notice or intimation, there was no time to 
turn back or to warn those who were on the eve of moving, 
(having perhaps, sacrificed home and property), of the 
fate that awaited them on their arrival at the border line — ■ 
garrisoned with Mexican troops to prevent their further 
progress. 

To humiliate and further annoy the colonists, more than 
a thousand soldiers were sent to the province, and distrib- 
uted at such points as their services might be needed The 
greater portion of these soldiers, it is said, Were discharged 
convicts and enlisted vagabonds, who were to be support- 
ed by the money collected from duties and by colonial tax- 
ation. Piedras, as ranking officer, with 320 men, was sta- 
tioned at Nacogdoches, to prevent further emigration from 
the United States; and this, too, at the time when Robert- 
son's Colony was settling and many families were enroute; 
Bradburn, with a force of 150 at Anahuac; Ugarteches, 
120 at Velasco; Col. Bean, with a force at Fort Ter- 
au on the Neches, as Indian agent to the central govern- 
ment — besides the forces at San Antonio and Goliad. 

Bradburn was the first to manifest a direct hostile 
spirit. Says 'Thomas Jefferson Chambers: "He introduc- 
ed martial law for the citizens; he took from them their 
property without their consent and without consideration; 
he had many of them arrested and imprisoned in the fort 
of Anahuac ; and his troops, who were guilty of robbing and 
stealing, were by him protected from punishment. " But it 
is not our purpose to enter into a discussion or review of 
the transpiring and approaching events of our political his- 
tory at this period, interesting and important as the sub- 
ject may be, and reference is made thus far somewhat in- 
cidentally. 

Fortunately for the colonists, while occupied with their 



66 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



internal affairs, the Indians at this date appear to have- 
been less troublesome — overawed for the time perhaps, by 
the expeditions of Kuykendall and Brown, the previous 
year. Then, too, the Cherokees, Wacos and Tehnaeanas 
had become involved in a serious strife among themselves. 

The trouble encountered by one of these bands, enroute 
to their people in Texas^ and while temporarily halting on 
Red River in the winter of 1828-29, is graphically narrated 
by John Henry Brown, in the only reliable account of this af 
fair — written and published more than half a century ago : 
"They had not been .at this place very long before their 
village was discovered by a party of Wacos, on a robbing 
expedition from the Brazos; and these freebooters, true to 
their instincts from time immemmorial, lay concealed till 
the silent midnight hour, and then, stealthily entering the 
herds of the sleeping Cherokees, stampeded their horses, 
driving off a large number. To follow them was labor in 
vain — but to quietly forget the deed was not the maxim 
among the red sons of Tennessee. 



RED WARRIORS IN DEADLY STRIFE. 

"A council was held and the matter discussed. After 
the opinions of the warriors had been given, the principal 
war chief rose, and in substance said: 'My brothers. The 
wild men of the far off Brazos have come into our camp 
while the Cherokees slept. They have stolen our most 
useful property. Without horses we are poor, and cannot 
make corn. The Cherokees will hasten to plant their corn 
for this spring, and while that is springing from the 
ground, and growing under the Great Spirit, and shall be 
waving around our women and children, we will leave some 
old men and women to watch it, and the Cherokee braves 
will spring upon the cunning Wacos of the Brazos as they 
sprang upon us.' 

"The corn was planted, and in the month of May, 1829, 
a w T ar party of fifty-five, well armed, left the village on 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



67 



foot in search of the Wacos. At this time the principal vil- 
lage of the Wacos, was on the bluff where the beautiful 
city of Waco now greets the eye on the west bank of the 
Brazos. One band of the Tehuacana ( Ta-wak-a-na ) In- 
dians, who have always been more or less connected with 
the Wacos, were living on the east bank of the river, three 
miles below. Both bands had erected rude fortifications, by 
scooping up the earth in various places and throwing up a 
circular embankment three or four feet high, the remains of 
which still are to be seen. The principal work of this kind 
at the Waco village occupied a natural sink in the surface. 

"The Cherokees struck the Brazos above the village 
some forty miles, and traveled downwards until they dis- 
covered signs of the proximity, and then secreted them- 
selves in the cedar brake till night. The greater portion 
of the night was spent in examining the position, through 
experienced scouts. Having made the necessary obser- 
vations, the scouts reported near daylight, when the war 
chief admonished them of what they hadj come for — re- 
venge! Waco scalps ! horses! and led them forth from their 
hiding place, under the bank of the river, to a point about 
four hundred yards from the wigwams of the slumber- 
ing Wacos. Here they halted till the rays of light, on that 
lovely May morning, began to gild the eastern horizon. 
The time for action had come. Moving with the noiseless, 
elastic step peculiar to the sons of the forest, the Chero- 
kees approached the camp. But a solitary Waco was aroused,, 
and was collecting the remains of his fire of the previous 
night, preparatory to his morning repast. His Indian ear 
caught the sounds of footsteps on the brush, a glance of his 
lynx eye revealed the approaching foe. A single shrill yell 
from him, which echoed far and near through the Brazos 
forest, brought every Waco to his feet. The terrible Chero- 
kee war-whoop was their morning greeting, accompanied 
by a shower of leaden rain. But though surprised, the 
Waecs out numbered their assailants many times, their wo- 
men and children must be protected or sacrificed, their 
ancient home, where the bones of their fathers had been 



68 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



buried for ages, was assailed by unknown) intruders. The 
chief rallied the warriors, and made a stand, the fight be- 
came general, and as the sun arose majestically over the 
towering trees of the east, he beheld the red men of Tennes- 
see and the red men of Texas in deadly strife. But the 
bows and arrows of the Wacos could not compete with the 
unerring rifles of the Cherokees. The Wacos were falling 
rapidly, while the Cherokees were unharmed. 

1 ' After half an hour's strife, amid yells and mutual 
imprecations, the Wacos signalled a retreat, and they fell 
back in confusion, taking refuge in the fortified sinkhole. 
Here, though hemmed in, they were quite secure, having a 
great advantage. Indeed they could kill every Cherokee 
who might peradventure, risk his person too near the brink. 

"The Cherokees had already killed many, and now 
held a council, to consider what they should do. It was 
proposed by one brave that they should strip to a state of 
nature, march into the sink-hole in a body, fire their pieces, 
then drop them, and with tomahawks alone endeavor to kill 
every man, woman and child among the Wacos. A half 
breed named Smith, who was in favor of this desperate 
measure, as an incentive to his comrades, stripped himself, 
fastened a dozen horsebells (which he had picked up in 
camp) around his waist, and commenced galloping and yell- 
ing around the sink-hole, now and then jumping on the em- 
bankment and then cursing the Wacos lustily. The arrows 
were hurled at him by the score, but he fell not. 

"Just as the Cherokee council was coming to a close, 
at ah out a n hour after sunris e, they heard a noise like dis- 
tant thunder on the opposite side of the river, and delayed 
a few moments to discover its cause. Very soon they dis- 
covered a large body of mounted Indians rising the river 
banks a little below them. What could it mean? they 
murmured one to another. The story is soon told. A 
messenger had rushed from the Wacos in the outset, for 
the Tehuacana village, begging help, and now two hundred 
Tehuacana warriors, mounted and ready for the fray, were 
at hard. The whole aspect of the day was changed in a 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



6ft 



moment. To conquer this combined force was impossible — 
to escape themselves would require prudence. The Tehua- 
canas, in coming up, cut off a Cherokee boy, twelve years, 
eld, killed and scalped him, and placed his 1 scalp, and held 
it tip defiantly to the view of the Cherokees. The boy was 
an only child, and his father beheld this scene. The brave 
man's eye glared with fury. Without a word he threw 
from his body every piece of his apparel, seized a knife in 
one hand, a tomahawk in the other. 'What will you?' de- 
manded the chief. 'Die with my brave boy. Die slaying 
the wild men who have plucked the last rose from my bos- 
om!' The chief interceded and told him it was madness; 
the Cherokee listened not; with rapid strides he rushed 
among the Tehuacanas, upon certain death; but ere death 
had seized its victim, he had killed several and died shout- 
ing defiance in their midst. 

"The Tehuac a nasi occupied the post oaks just below the 
Cherokees, and kept up a lusty shouting, but ventured not 
within rifle shot. The latter seeing that on an open field 
they could not resist such numbers — having taken fifty-five 
Waco scalps, (equal to their own number) and having lost 
two men and the boy — now fell back into the cedar brake 
and remained there till night. They were convinced that 
their safety depended upon a cautious retreat, for if sur- 
rounded on the prairie, they would be annihilated. When 
night came on they crossed the river, travelirg down the 
sand bank a mile or two, as if they were going down the 
country, thence, turning up the stream, waded up the edge 
of the water some six or seven miles, (the river being low 
and remarkably even), and thus eluded pursuit. In due 
time they reached their Red River villages, without the 
thousand horses they anticipated, but with fifty-five Waca 
ecalps — glory enough in their estimation. The entire band 
was now speedily collected and amid much rejoicing and 
with great noise, it is said, indulged in one of the grandest 
war dances ever witnessed in Texas." 



70 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



THE CHEROKEE AND TEHUACANA FIGHT. 

"The Cherokees, it seems, did not forget the Tehuaeanas, 
but held them to strict account — determined to take re- 
venge on them for their interference in the engagement 
with the Wacos — as the sequel will show. To this end it ap- 
pears, early in the summer of 1830, they armed and equipped 
one hundred and twenty cf their bravest and best 
fighters, who marched upon one of the principal villages 
of the enemy. 

"The Tehuaeanas, like the Waccs, had several princi- 
pal villages, favorite resorts, from some peculiarity, as fine 
springs of water, abundance of buffalo, etc. One of them, 
and perhaps their most esteemed locality, was at the south- 
ern point of the hills of the same name, now in the upper 
edge of Limestone County. Around these springs there is 
a large amount iof loose limestone on the surface, as well as 
in the hills, and the whole surrounding country is one of 
rare beauty and loveliness. 

"The Tehuaeanas had erected several small enclosures 
of these loose stones, about three feet high, leaving occas- 
ional spaces some two feet square, resembling the mouths 
of furnaces. Over the tops they threw poles and spread 
buffalo hides, and when attacked, their women, old' men and 
children, would seek refuge in the same, and lying flat on 
the ground, would send their arrows and bullets through 
these apertures whenever an enemy came in range. From 
the attacks of small arms, such a protection, however primi- 
tive, was generally quite effective. 

"This party of Cherokees, having been informed of the 
locality of this place, and the value set upon it by the Te- 
huaeanas, and knowing that it was a considerable distance 
from the Wacos, determined to seek it out and there wreak 
vengeance upon those who had by their own act called 
forth feelings of hostility. Guided by an Indian who had 
explored the country as a trappper, they reached the place 
in due season. When discovered, the Tehuaeanas were en- 
gaged at a play of ball around the little fort. The Chero- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



71 



kees stripped fcr action at once, while the ball players, 
promptly ceased that amusement, rushed their women and 
children into the retreats, and prepared for defense. They 
had quite a large village, and outnumbered the Cherokees in 
fighting men. 

"A random fight commenced, the Cherokees using the 
surroundirg trees as protection, and taking the matter as 
a business transaction, made their advances from tree to 
tree with prudence. Their aim, with the 'rest' against the 
trees, told with effect, and one by one, notwithstanding 
their hideous yells and capering to and fro, the Tehuaca- 
nas were biting the dust. 

"The moment one was wounded, unless a very brave fel- 
low, he would crawl into the hiding place among the women 
and children, unless, perchance, on his way, a Cherokee 
ball brought him to the ground 

"The fight continued this way an hour or more, when, 
upon a signal, the whole bocty retired within the breastworks. 
At this time the Cherokees, elated by what they supposed 
to be a victory, charged upon the open holes, ringing' their 
victorious war-whoop most furiously. But they were soon 
convinced that though concealed, the besieged were not 
powerless, for here they received a shower of arrows and 
balls from the hidden enemy which tumbled several of their 
braves alongside of those they killed on the other side. Yet, 
excited as they had become, they were not easily convinced 
that prudence in that case was the better part of valor. On 
the contrary, they maintained the unequal contest for some 
time, until one of their old men advised & talk. 

"They withdrew a short distance and held a consulta- 
tion. Their leaders said they had eome there for revenjge 
and they would not relinquish their design so long as a 
Cherokee brave was left to fight — that to go back to their 
people and report a defeat, would disgrace them — they 
would die on the field rather than bear such tidings. 
'Where there's a will, there's a way' is a trite old adage, 
and at this juncture of affairs, it was verified by the Chero- 
kees. The eld man who had advised the 'talk,' nowl made 



72 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



a suggestion, which was seconded by all. He proposed that 
a party should be sent off a short distance to cut dry grass 
and bring a load>; that mien, loaded with this material, should 
•cautiously approach each hole in the breastworks, from the 
sides, using the grass as a shield on the way; that the door 
holes should be stopped up with it, (with new supplies con- 
stantly arriving), and set on fire, by which, very simple pro- 
cess the inmates would be suffocated or compelled to throw 
off the hides and leap out, breathless and more or less 
blinded through the smoke, while the Cherokees, stationed 
around in circles, would have an easy time in butchering 
their astonish-ed red brethren. This was a rich idea and de- 
lighted with the anticipated fun on their part, and 
misery among their enemies, the Cherokees speedily made 
all their arrangements and disposed of their fighting men 
to the best advantage. The grass was placed in the re- 
quired position, and at the same moment, set on fire. For 
a moment or two no response was heard from within; but 
very soon the smoke w T as seen escaping through the rocks 
and from under the skins, proving that each little refuge 
was full of the strangulating exhalation. To endure such, 
a torture long, was beyond human power; and in a little 
while a doleful; howl issued forth, followed by a signifi- 
cant upheaving of the buffalo -skin roofs, and a rush of the 
gasping victims, blinded by smoke, leaping over the walls, 
they knew not where. To render the picture more appal- 
ling, the exulting Cherokees sot up a terrible yelling, and 
dealt death to the doomed creatures with their guns, toma- 
hawks and scalping knives until all were slain, or had made 
their escape from the dreadful sacrifice by headlong flight. 
Quite a number of squaws and children, and perhaps a few 
men, had been unable to rise, and died from suffocation 
inside the w r orks." 

And thus ended this tragic scene in the course of our 
Indian warfare. Comparatively few of theTehuacanas es- 
caped. The surviving women and children were preserved 
prisoners, and a considerable number of horses, blankets, 
stirs, and indeed the entire tamp equipage, fell into the 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



7? 



hands of the victors, who returned to their people on Red 
River in triumph, displaying not only their booty, but a 
large number of the greatest of all Indian symbols of 
glory, scalps. 

While no serious troubles from Indians appear to have 
been committed during this and the succeeding year or 
two, the isolated and extreme border settlers suffered from 
occasional thieving forays of tlxe Wacos and Tahuacanas. 

In November, a party of eleven Wacos entered the 
settlements some twenty miles west of San Felipe. They 
were on foot, and well supplied with ropes and bridles. A 
party consisting of Adam Lawrence, Thomas Stevens, 
Abner Kuykendall, Charles Gates, B. Kuykendall, George 
Rtbinson, William Cooper and five others, were mem col- 
lected to intercept the Indians. Discovering them camped near 
the house of John Stevens, on Caney Creek, the settlers 
made a surprise attack at dawn. 

"Favored by a gully and a dense fog, we approached 
within thirty feet of the Indians (part of whom had not yet 
risen), before they perceived us, at which moment we de- 
livered our fire." As the Indians fled one of them shot 
William Cooper through the heart, killing him instantly. 
This caused considerable confusion and delay on the part 
cf the settlers. "Late in the morning," says Kuykendall 
"the trail of the Indians was followed as far as the bottom 
of Caney Creek, five or six hundred yards, some red strips 
marked their course across the prairie and two or three 
conical shaped pieces of rotton wood, with which these In- 
dians are generally provided, to plug their wounds, were 
picked up on the trail, saturated with blood." 'The carcass 
of one of these Indians was found in the bottom, and from 
the Mexicans at Tenoxtitlan, some two weeks later, it was 
learned that seven of them died from their w T ounds before 
reaching their homes. 

1831 — Despite the prohibitory decree of tifoe previous yes* 
and the forebodings of political troubles, the American 
population of Texas continued to increase — numbering aboat 
twenty thousand. The most part of these prohibited em*- 



74 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



grants came, however, under the general prvovisions of the 
law, on their own account, halting east of the Trinity, where 
they fixed homes. 

Having designated their lands, these settlers were an- 
xious for legal possession, and, to that end, "in 1831 the 
Governor of the State had commmissioned Don Francisco 
Madero as commissioner to issue titles to the settlers on 
and near the region of Liberty." Justly exercising the 
authority of his position, and most gratifying to the people 
of that section, Madero created he municipatlity of Liber- 
ty, appointing Hugh B. Johnson as Alcalde. 

But for this, the Commissioner was arrested and im- 
prisoned, the Alcalde removed and the municipality of 
"Libertad" dissolved — a new Ayuntamiento being set up 
by the despotic and obdurate military satrap, Bradburn, 
with its seat at Anahuac under his immediate surveillance. 
Thus far, this suffices to show the general trendj of the 
events transpiring in, and most affecting, the colonies. 

Fortunate for the otherwise vexed colonists, no serious 
depredations by Indians appear to have been committed at 
this time. However, the year 1831, says Yoakum, did not 
pass away without being witness to a battle, which, consid- 
ering the number engaged and its results, was the hardest 
contested field in 'Texas. 

One of the early and unique pioneer characters of Tex- 
as, was Caiaphas K. Ham, born in the year 1803. He was 
an intimate friend and associate of the Bowies in Louisiana, 
and came to Texas in 1830, residing with Colonel James 
Bowie and his beautiful Spanish wife — the daughter of Vice 
Governor Veramendi — at the Mission of San Jose, on the 
San Antonio River some four miles below the city. 

Soon after his arrival in Texas, Mr. Ham decided to 
join the Comanche Indians for the purpose of buying horses 
for the Louisiana market. At that time, 1830, this tribe 
was at peace with the Texans. "Being in San Antonio 
frequently, " isays Ham's narrative, "on almost every occa- 
sion I saw parties of Comanche Indians who came in to 
trade. My desire was to know something of them and the 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



75 



country they wandered over. Cclcnel Bowie at first op- 
posed the scheme, but finding I was determined, he assisted 
me in getting things in good shape. A Comanche chief 
named Incoiroy, came in. An interpreter was employed 
and a treaty made. I was adopted into the chief's family, 
with, an assurance that I could return to the whites when- 
ever I chose. A supply of powder, balls, butcher knives 
and brass rings, was laid in." The object in adverting to 
this freak will be seen farther on, when it will be discover- 
ed that this trading expedition had an important bearing 
upon an affair affecting Colonel Bowie. 

"We left San Antonio," continues Ham's narrative, 
"and started for the chief's camp. I had no care on my 
mind; in the morning I saddled one horse and packed anoth- 
er — the latter being turned over to the care of my Indian 
mama. 

"About this time a party of Wacos were encamped 
near us. They wanted to trade, and had good horses. In- 
corroy instructed me how to trade — I gave one pint of pow- 
der, eight balls, one plug of tobacco, one butcher knife, 
and two brass rings, for a horse." 

After some five months, Ham received a message 
from Colonel Bowie advising him to return to San Antonio 
at once, as the Mexican Government was preparing to make 
war upon the Indian tribes; and that if found among the 
Comanches he would be killed with. them. During his stay 
with the Indians, Ham had gained their friendship com- 
pletely, and had himself become attached to his red friends. 
When he left the chief, twenty-five warriors escorted him 
to San Antonio. Mr. Ham was convinced that the real mo- 
tive for his recall from the Indians was an intention on the 
part of the Bowies to re-visit the celebrated silver mine near 
San Saba, which had been discovered, and partially examin- 
ed by Bowie, it 'appears, some time previous to 1831. 

The shaft was about eight feet deep ; the bottom was 
reached by means of steps cut in a live oak log. Bowie 
used his tomahawk in getting possession of some of the ore; 
which he carried to New Orleans, had it assayed, and it 



76 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



"panned cut" rich. He soon returned to San Antonio and 
quietly set about organizing a select little party to revisit 
and examine the mine. Mr. Ham was one of the party se- 
lected. 

These facts are deemed permissible in this connection as 
shedding some light on the thrilling episode to follow. 



BOWIE'S FAMOUS INDIAN FIGHT. 

Perhaps the celebrated engagement known as "Bowie's 
Indian Fight" is without a parallel on this continent; cer- 
tainly a more skillful and heroic defense against such fear- 
ful odds was never made on Texas soil. 

Organized, equipped and led by the Bowie brothers, the 
little exploring party consisting of Rezin P. and James 
Bowie, David Buchanan, Robert Armstrong, Jesse Wallace, 
Matthew Doyle, Thomas McCaslin, C. K. Ham, James Cor- 
yell, (for whom Coryell county was named), and two ser- 
vant boys, Charles, a negro, and Gonzales, a Mexican, set 
out from San Antonio on November 2, 1831, to locate and 
re-open the long abandoned and lost silver mines of Alma- 
gres, SOMEWHERE, in the vicinity of the old San Saba 
Mission. The secret of the location of this celebrated and 
rich silver mine was w T ell guarded by the Indians, who 
wished to prevent another influx of miners and adventurers 
into their hunting groundsi — a condition that brought 
about the fate of the San Saba Mission, when its inmates, 
the miners, arid people there congregated, were suddenly 
fell upon and all massacred by the incensed Indians in 1758. 

The little party traveled out and met with no adven- 
ture of note until the 19th, when they were overtaken by a 
party of friendly Comanches, who informed Bowie that a 
large body of hostile Indians were on his trail swearing 
that they would take the scalp of every white man in the 
party. The hostile Indians were the Tehuacanas, Wacos 
and Caddos, numbering 164 well armed braves. They 
Were too strong for Bowie to risk a fight, and! erven 
when the Comanche chief offered to join Bowie with has 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



77 



band of sixteen men, the odds were so fearful that Bowie 
declined the generous offer and pressed forward with the 
intention of reaching the old fort on the San Saba before 
night. But the Texans soon struck a rocky road, and 
their horses' feet were so worn and sore that they were 
compelled to step for the night in a small grove of live 
oaks. This grove was in an open prairie, interspersed with 
rocks and clumps of trees. Near it, on the west, was a 
stream of water, and on the north, a thicket of small trees 
about ten feet high. Into this thicket, and through prick- 
ly pears, the Texans cut a road, in order that they might 
be prepared for defense in ease of an attack by the Indians. 
They then posted sentries and ho'bbled their horses, but 
they were not molested until the next morning, when they 
discovered Indians on their trail before they could get 
ready to depart for the fort. One of the Indians' was some 
distance in advance of his comrades. He was on foot with 
his head to the ground, following the trail of the Texans. 
Bowie and his men flew to arms. The red men gave a loud 
warwheep and began their preparations for an attack. 
While some of the bucks on horseback were reconnoitering 
the ground, the Texans decided, on account of the fearful 
odds, against them — 164 to 11 — to avoid, if possible, a fight 
so unequal and desperate. It was agreed that Rezin Bowie 
should go out and parley with the Indians and try to make 
terms of peace. He went, accompanied by David Buchan- 
an. They walked to within forty yards of the enemy's 
line and invited the Indians to send out their chief, so that 
they could have a talk with him. The Indians who had 
been addressed in their own tongue replied with a 
"How do! How do!" followed by a volley of rifle 
®hots, one of which wounded Buchanan in the leg. 
Bowie replied with the contents of his double bar- 
reled shot gun, and pistol, then taking his wounded com- 
rade on his back, started for the camp. The Indians fired 
another volley, and Buchanan was wounded twice more, 
but not mortally. The savages then pursued with toma- 
hawks and were close upon Bowie and his unfortunate 



78 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



companion, "when the Texans charged them with rifles, kill- 
ing four and putting the others to flight. Bowie and his 
men then returned to their positions and for five minutes 
all was quiet. 

Then there came fierce yells from a hill red with In- 
dians, and so near that the Texans could hear the voice 
of the chief as he urged his men to charge. "Who is load- 
ed ?" cried the Texan leader. "I am," answered Cephas 
Ham. "Then shoot that chief," said Bowie, and Ham 
fired, breaking the leg of the Indian and killing his pony. 
As the wounded chief went hopping around his horse, four 
of the Texans, who had reloaded, fired, and he fell. Sev- 
eral of his men, who advanced to bear his body away, were 
killed., and the whole band fell back beyond the hill. But 
they soon covered the hill again, bringing up their women, 
and there was rapid firing on both sides. Another chief, 
advancing on horseback and urging his men forward, was. 
killed by James Bowie. Meanwhile a number of the In- 
dians succeeded in getting under the creek bank in the rear 
of the Texans. They opened fire at forty yards distance 
and Matthew Doyle was shot through the breast, and Thom- 
as McCaslin, running forward to avenge him, was shot 
through the body. The firing then became general from 
all quarters and the Texans, finding themselves too much 
exposed, retreated to the thicket, where they were in point 
blank range of the riflemen under the creek bank and soon 
dislodged them. 

In the thicket the Texans were not only well screen- 
ed, but had a clear view of the Indians on the prairie. 
They baffled the savages in their shots, by moving six 
or eight feet the moment they fired, for the only mark for 
the red men was the smoke o f the Texans' guns, and they 
would immediately put a shower of balls on the spot where 
they saw the smoke. 

After the fight had continued in this way for two< 
hours, the Indians saw that they could not dislodge the* 
Texans with bullets, and they resorted to fire. By this: 
they expected to rout the little party and secure an oppor- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 79 



tunity of carrying off their dead and wounded under cov- 
er of the smoke, for the rifles of the rangers had brought 
down several at every round. They set fire to the dry grass 
to the windward of the thicket. The flame® soared high 
and rushed forward with great fury. The Texans cleared 
away the grass around their wounded comrades and mad^ 
whatever barriers they could against the flames by piling 
up rock and bushes to make a flimsy breastwork. Mean- 
while the Indians, who had succeeded in carrying off their 
dead and wounded under cover of the smoke, returned 
again to the attack. The wind suddenly shifted to the\ 
north and the red men quick to see the advantage it gave*, 
them, seized their chance and again set fire to the grass. 
The flames went roaring ten feet high toward the thicket, 
while the shouts and yells of the savages rent the air. 

This was the critical moment in the fight. The sparks 
began to fly so fast that no man could open his powder 
horn without danger of being blown to pieces. In case the, 
Indians should make a charge under cover of the smoke v 
which was expected, they could give only one effectual 
fir-e and then rely on their knives. Besides, there was great 
danger from the flames, but as they came to the edge of? 
the cleared space around the wounded, those stalwart men* 
smothered them with buffalo hides, bear skins and blank-, 
-eta. 

The savages did not charge, but the fire left so little of 
the thicket that the Texans took refuge in the ring they had 
made around the wounded, and began raising their breast- 
works higher with earth and loose rocks. The Indians, who 
succeeded in removing their dead and wounded from the 
field under cover of the smoke, seeing the Texans were 
still alive and dangerous, became discouraged, and as 
night approached, retired from the field. 

The Texans strengthened their breastworks and filled 
their vessels and skins with water and awaited the attack 
which they expected the following morning. All night 
they heard the savages wailing over their dead and at day- 
light they shot a chief who was mortally wounded, which 



80 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



was according to the custom o f their tribe. They did not 
renew the attack the next morning, but went to a cave 
about a mile away for shelter and to bury their dead. Two 
of the rangers ventured out of the little fort and went to 
the place where the Indians had spent the night. There 
they counted forty-eight bloody places on the ground where 
the dead and wounded Indians had been laid as they were 
brought from the battlefield. 

According to the best authorities, it is estimated that 
the Indians had eighty odd killed and wounded. 'The In- 
dians themselves admitted they had 52 killed, and half as 
many wounded. The Texans lost one killed and had three 
wounded. The little party remained in their rudely forti- 
fied camp for eight days after the fight, attending their 
wounded, and watching for an opportunity to slip away 
and elude pursuit. The homeward journey consumed ten 
days. The manner of their reception is thus pathetically 
told by one of their number — Mr. Ham. 

4 4 The Coroanches, believing it impossible for eleven 
men to defend themselves successfully against the fearful 
odds of fifteen to one, went into San Antonio and reported 
the almost certain death of Bowie and his party. It was 
the general opinion that the explorers had been massacred. 
Stephen Bowie had arrived in Texas and accepted the re- 
port as true. He was raising a company to avenge the 
sanguinary murder of his two brothers. The shades of night 
nad fallen on the city. Sad hearts were bewailing the fate 
the adventurous Americans. A party of men, mostly on 
foot, weary and soiled by travel, entered the streets of the 
Queen City of the West. Some of the men were recog- 
nized. A shout went up; it was repeated, it spread from 
street to street, from house to house. Stout men quivered 
with excitemeent, tears of joy dimmed bright eyes. Fear- 
less men rushed forward to grasp in friendship and admira- 
tion, the hands of citizens who had proved themselves 
lieroes in a contest demanding courage, prudence, endurance 
ajid all the noble qualities adorning the soldier and the 
patriot. 'Bowie's party have returned! They have won 



WM. A. A. ..BIG FOOT" WALLACE, 2. SAMUEL M. WILLIAMS 

' FOSTER. THE HUNTER. 4. MOSES AUST'n, FATHER STEPH. F.AUSTIN 




JUDGE: O. L TYLER. 

3. HON. W. 1_. DAVIDSON 



2. CAPT. JOHN HARVEY 

4. COL. WM. F. HENDERSON 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



81 



a glorious victory !' was the cry. House to house was illu- 
minated. The people in their heart of hearts decreed them 
a triumph. And well they deserved it. The pages of his- 
tory record but few such achievements. It stands almost 
alone upon the scenic walls of Fame's grand temple. The 
valorous men who braved their breasts to the assaults of a 
savage enemy in overwhelming numbers, who fought with- 
out fear and without hope, and rolled back the tide of bar- 
baric aggression,* should be remembered and honored as 
long as civilization endures and gratitude has a place in 
the human heart." (Unpublished memoirs of Col. John S. 
Ford.) 

Ere Long, nothing daunting the brave Bowies, they 
determined to again seek, and yet possess, the coveted 
treasure; and to this end, we are told, they organized and 
equipped a, second, and more formidable expedition, of some 
thirty men, which was well nigh starting when the Texas 
war for independence opened : and, true to their patriotic 
promptings, the Bowie brothers were among the first to 
heed the call to arms. They hastened to Gonzales, led at 
Conception, and were among the first to respond to the 
cry, 4 'Who will follow old Ben Milam into San Antonio V 1 
Three months later James Bowie fell in the Alamo, be- 
queathing his name and heroism to all succeeding genera- 
tions of Texans; while Rezku P. Bowie, mourning the un- 
timely fate of his brother, and leader in all matters, of an 
adventurous nature at least, retired to his home and estate 
in Louisiana, where he led a profitable and exemplary, but 
less hazardous, life, till hiis death in New Orleans, January 
17, 1841. 

And thus tragically closed the history of this famous, 
but, perhaps, forever lost, Almagres — since ever called the 
"Bowie Mine," because Bowie was the only American who 
ever knew the secret of its location. "His expedition be- 



5f The citizens of Bexar in a memorial to the general engagement, stated that within 
ten years— 1822 to 1832— ninety seven citizens, besides soldiers killed in battles, had been 
murdered by hostile Indians. 



82 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



gan," says one, 4 'under the rainbow of promise, but closed 
under the cloud of appalling disaster." 

Since that time, eighty years ago, many other adventur- 
ous and enterprising parties have sought in vain to locate 
this mine. The treasure is yet hidden, and will likely re- 
main a mystery. 

The following letter will throw some light on the char- 
acter of the Bowies, and is here appropriately inserted: 

New Orleans, La. May 3, 1889. 

Mr. Jas. T. DeShields, 
Dear Sir:- 

I am, as you have been informed, connected with the 
Bowies, being the grand-daughter of Col. Rezin P., and 
grand niece of Col. James Bowie; and as such I thank you 
for your kind intentions in regard to them. Some "penny 
-a-liners" more fit to write for five cent, blood and thunder, 
sensational publications, than for history, have seen fit to 
describe them as pirates, border ruffians and characters of 
such ilk, simply because Grand-father originated the knife 
bearing 'hiis name ; and that for use only as a hunting knife. 
The Bowies were men of honor, and gentlemen, possessing 
both intelligence and handsome physiques. They loved ad- 
venture and excitement of a legitimate nature ; they never 
sought quarrels, for they were peaceful and amiable, but 
fear had no home in their souls; and combined with a just 
idea of their own rights, was the courage to defend them. 

Not only wene they heroes, but the sons of a hero, for 
their father, Rezin Bowie, Sr., was one of Gen. Marion's men, 
and their mother was of sterling worth. She met her hus- 
band in Georgia, during the Revolution, when with the 
spirit of a patriot, she was nursing back to life the defend- 
ers of her country. 

I handled yiour leittter to my brother, (Major John S. 
Moore, 167 Gravier St.) and would advise you to address 
him personally, he is often in receipt of such requests as 
yours. 

My mother is living, and with my brother, she is the 
only living child of my grand-father. Uncle James left no 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



83 



children, his wife and two babies died previously to his 
death at the Alamo. 

"We have excellent portraits of Grandpa and' Uncle 
James. Thanking you ionce more, I remain, 

Respectfully yours, 
Mrs. Engine Soniet de Fosset, 




Old Stone Fort at Naeogdodhes. 



CHAPTER V. 



HILE nuemorafble in the history of Texas 
as the year in which the colonists first 
took up arms in defense of their liberties 
and vested rights against Mexican military 
usurpation and despottdsm, the records sihow 
but few incidents of Indian warfare in 
1832.* 

Yoakum, however, tells us that "the In- 
dians along the Texan frontier were gener- 
ally mischievous — in fact there was scarce- 
ly a month that passed, but some murder or robbery was 
perpetrated by them." So we see that the year 1882 was 
not an exception. Hence it was some consolation to the 
Texans that, during this year, the different tribes had a 
good deal of fighting among themselves, especially a great 
battle between the Comanches and Shawnees, in which the 
former were badly defeated. 



But this year did not pass away without much apprehension of serious troubles with 
Indians. "This was a year of suffering for Texas; for no soonsr had they been relieved 
from the contest with the Mexicans, than they were still more alarmed by the ravages of 
the Indians, who were making continued depredations upon the frontiers. Their fears 
were not without foundation; for the powerful bodies of Indians in their vicinity were truly 
formidable." Against these savages their own moral and physical resources constituted 
about the sole means of defense, for at that time there were less than seventy Mexican sol- 
diers in Texas, and these were sustained by the citizens of Bexar. And too, the calamities 
of the settlers were still further increased by the appearance of the dreaded cholera, which 
had been long traveling westward, desolating hamlets, towns and cities, in its well marked 
course; and which reached Texas in the fall of this year, raging with fearful violence and 
claiming as its victims, many of the valuable and useful citizens of the struggling colonies. 




BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



85 



SHAWNEES OUTWIT COMANCHES. 

In 1832 a party of five hundred Comanches came in- 
to San Antonio. At that time a party of Shawnees, twenty- 
five in number, were encamped in the hills, about thirty- 
live miles north of the town. A Comanche Indian attemp- 
ted' to carry off one of the Shawnee women, who was in 
the town. She fled to her own people, gave them informa- 
tion of what occurred, and they prepared an ambush for 
their enemies at a point where they expected them to en- 
camp. The Comanches came as anticipated, and took off 
their packs. Just at this time, the Shawnees opened fir© 
on them; and though they rallied often, so deadly was the 
effect and so secure the position of the attacking party, 
that the Comanches at last fled, leaving one hundred and 
seventy-five dead on the field. The discomfitted party 
returned to San Antonio, and the Mexican authorities sent 
out a force to assist them ; but the Shawnees had made good 
their retreat, and thus far escaped the wrath of the exas^ 
perated Comanches.* 

It will be remembered that at this period, and perhaps 
during the next few years, the Comanches were on friendly 
terms with the Americans.** We have iseen that a large 



♦ Telegraph and Texas Register, Aug. 14, 1839. 

*#■ Although the Comanches frequently raided the Mexican settlements along the Rio 
Grande, killing rancheros and capturing women and children, during the first years of the 
nineteenth century, they were all along friendly to the American settlers, and no serious 
hostilities can be charged to this tribe previous to about 1834-35. Ample evidence can be 
produced that these Indians maintained their friendship for the Americans till provoked to 
hostility. David G. Burnet, afterward prominent in the political affairs of Texas, lived with 
the Comanches from 1817 to 1819, and gives them a good reputation. Likewise, Gen. S. F. 
Austin had ample demonstrations of their honorable intentions and friendly feelings toward 
the American settlers. And it may be remembered that late as 1831, the people of Gonzales 
gave a barbecue dinner to about one hundred Comanches— the ladies of that then village as- 
sisting in serving the repast and entertaining their swarthy visitors: who after regaling 
themselves, mounted their horses and departed, with mutual expressions of good will. But 
this, in marked contrast with all that soon follows concerning the Comanches and their at- 
titude toward the whites. Once provoked to hostility, they commenced a most cruel, and 
bloody warfare— waged with relentless severity for nearly half a century against the settle- 
ments in Texas. Whether true or not, it is said the Comanches were first provoked to en- 
mity by a company of French traders from New Orleans, enroute to Santa Fe, and who 
gave poisoned bread to a begging party of Comanches. The fatal results following greatly 
incensed the Indians, who thereupon determined on revenge, and declared war upon the 
whites in general. 



86 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



delegation of this tribe met Sam Houston, as Indian agent 
of the United States, in friendly council at San Antonio dur- 
ing the last days of this year or the first of 1833. "Dur- 
ing 1833 and 1834," says Kenney, "their name does not ap- 
pear in the hostilities ascribed to known tribes, but In- 
dian hostilities in general, would blacken many pages." 



BATTLE OF VELASCO. 

Recurring to political affairs, and further noticing the 
warlike commotions of the Americans and Mexicans, in the 
colonies, during this year, it will be seen that Bradburn, 
the Mexican commandant at Anahuac, in violation of civil 
law, arrested and imprisoned, seventeen colonists, including 
Wm. B. Travis, Samuel T. Allen and Patrick C. Jack. The 
settlers flew to arms, hastened to Anahuac and demand- 
ed their release. This was promised in return for the sur- 
render of twenty of Bradburn 's soldiers who had been cap- 
tured. The soldiers were delivered, the settlers meanwhile 
retiring to Turtle Bayou, where they held a mass meeting 
June 13, at which they passed resolutions denouncing Bus- 
tamente, and pledging support to the Mexican Constitution 
of 1824, and the "patriot Gen. Santa Anna." The commis- 
sioners sent to receive the Texan prisoners were denied ad>- 
mission to the fort and were fired on. It was recognized 
that nothing further could be done without cannon and re- 
inforcements. John Austin, in command of a detail of men, 
was sent to Brazoria for both. 

During his absence, Col. Piedras, commander at Nac- 
ogdoches and Bradburn 's military superior, arrived at An- 
ahuac, set Travis and his companions at liberty, and re- 
moved Bradburn from office. Not knowing what was 
transpiring at Anahuac, John Austin, with one '.hun- 
dred and twelve men and a schooner, carrying can- 
non, started from Brazoria. When they reached Velasco 
the Mexican officer, Ugartechea, in command at that post, 
refused to permit the schooner to pass. Thereupon was 
fought the battle of Velasco, the first collision between the 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



87 



colonists and Mexican soldiery in which blood! was shed in reg- 
ular warfare, much more of an actual conflict than the battle 
of San Jacinto, four years later, amd one of the most bril- 
liant actions ever fought within the limits of the United 
.States — equal in point of success to the exploit of Dick 
Dowling and his men at Sabine Pass during the war be- 
tween the States, and inferior only to the defense of the 
Alamo by Travis and his comrades in 1836. 

False rumorsi of occurrences in Texas reaching Mexico, 
where Santa Anna was engaged in a struggle with the 
tyrant Bustamente for the supremacy, Santa Anna im- 
mediately despatched to Texas, Gen. Jose Antonio Mexia, 
with four hundred infantry and five armed vessels to learn 
what the intentions of the Texans were. Stephen F. Aus- 
tin, while at Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, learned 
of this expedition and hastened to Matamoras, where he 
joined Mexia and proceeded with him to the mouth of the 
Brazos. Mexia visited Brazoria, San Felipe and other 
places, and was thoroughly convinced that the Texans were 
loyal to the Republic and genuine supporters of the liberal 
cause. A bamquet was given in his benor, at which speeches 
were made glowing with patriotic enthusiasm and toasts 
were drunk to Santa Anna. He then returned to Mexico, 
taking with him most of the troops stationed in the coast 
country and at San Antonio. Shoitly thereafter James W. 
Bullock and three hundred men demanded! that Piedras 
declare for Santa Anna. Piedras refused. A brisk fight 
ensued, with the result that Piedras retired with his forc- 
es, or rather retreated from his post at Nacogdoches during 
the night, to the Angelina River, where he was over- 
taken by a detachment of colonists, under James Bowie, 
tk> whom he surrendered! — his soldiers at once shouting, 
4 'Long live Santa Anna!" 

Tihiesie remark® make permissible, extracts from a re- 
cently discovered and highly interesting letter, penned by 
the empresario, Alex. S. Thompson, colleague and partner 
with Sterling C. Robertson of the famous "Nashville Com- 
pany," afterwards known as "Robertson's Colony." 



88 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



The organization of this company was fully perfected 
in 1830, and the following year Thompson came out to the 
colony bringing his family. Nashville subsequently be- 
came the capital of Milam County for several years, and a 
son, "W. D. 'Thompson, was the first county clerk in 1837. 
The ruins of his bonne may yet be seen on the site of this 
old town. Another son, "Mac" Thoimpscn, was one of the 
seventeen unfortunate Meir prisoners who drew the black 
beans, and were shot. Alex S. Thompson lived many years 
in Burleson county, where he died in 1863, aged seventy- 
eight years. But to the letter: 

Texas, Austin Colony, Aug. 5, 1832. 

My Dear Son :- 

I suppose you have seen in the public prints something 
of our commotions, and no doubt felt anxious for us. A few 
weeks ago the clouds o* war hung thick over us, but now 
are all dispersed, and more prosperous times are approach- 
ing than ever have been seen in this Goumtry. 

Our commotions in this colony arose from Colonel 
Bradburn having taken four or five AmeniidaEis of the dis- 
trict in which he lived, and put them in confinement. 

The alcalde of said district went to him and demand- 
ed them, wishing to have them tried by the civil authori- 
ties. He refused, but at length agreed that the Ayunte- 
mento might try them, which they did, and set them at 
liberty. 

A short time afterwards, Bradburn had them again in 
confinement. This irritated the people of this colony, and 
a good many of them volunteered and went down to Brad- 
burn and demanded the prisoners. He required time to de- 
liberate, which they granted, but it is said he sent off for 
help, and then refused, after forfeiting his honor. Our 
men then sent on for all the cannon that was in the colony, 
which they got and put on board a vessel at Brazoria, 
but the Oolonieil that cicmmanided at the mouth of the Braz- 
os, would not let them pass. They then attacked the fort 
and after a fight of eight hours the fort surrendered, hav- 
ing fired ninety rounds of artillery and 4,000 musket shots. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



$9 



Our vessel discharged 116 rounds of cannon. I have not 
learned how many rifle balls, but such bold militia I have 
never heard of before. 

They stood in the open prairie and fought without 
cover, and even marched up in thirty-two paces of the 
mouth of the cannon and shot the Spaniards as fast as they 
approached to fire. It is said there were 150 in the fort and 
190 of our men. They killed six of our men and we killed 
thirty four and wounded, I think about forty. 

About that time Colonel Piedras, who commanded at 
Nacogdoches, went to our army on the Trinity and treated 
with them and went down to Bradburn and arrested him^ 
and delivered all the prisoners to them, which they passed 
over to the civil power. 

The men thus attained their object, and returned hofme< 
peaceably, first showing the military that the constitution* 
should be adhered to and the civil power rule. 

Soon after this, Colonel Austin, who was in the in- 
terior, came on with a colonel in Santa Anna's service and 
was joined by the whole colony. They sent on expresses to 
the different garrisons, which had already consented to joir* 
them. 

Austin says as soon as the legislature meets, the State- 
will declare in favor of Santa Anna. 

I do not suppose they will have any more fighting here. 
It is now past a doubt that Santa Anna will gain his point. 
Oeneral Teran has killed himself, and I have understood 
•nearly all his army that weire not killed have jokned Sant& 
Anna, who now holds all the ports of entry, and commands 
all the revenue. He has men and money plenty, while the 
other side is destitute of money, and their men are con- 
tinually deserting them and joining Santa Anna. 

Santa Anna is said to be a. true republican, and deter- 
mined not to lay down his arms without republicanism pre- 
vails. He has declared himsel f in favor of religious tolera- 
tion and free emigration, which are two things very desirable' 
for this country, and so soon as that takes place, our coun- 
try will begin to flourish. We shall then have the right* 



90 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



kind of people to settle our rich prairies, and bottom lands, 
and those of us who have ventured and suffered so much 
will then be repaid for all our toils and troubles. * * * 

Alex S. Thompson. 



AD LAWRENCE'S FAMOUS LEAP. 

In the summer of 1832 occurred an adventure, that a*; 
told by the hero in his own homespun phrase, affords the 
mind's eye a glimpse of the Texas of old, and its inhabi- 
tants of renown. The hero ir. question was Adam or 
"Ad" Lawrenjce, a gift of Tennessee to Texas, I believe, and 
who first settled near the headwaters of the 'Trinity River 
about 1829. 

Certainly no man could have been by nature better 
adapted to the profession he had! chosen. Though modest 
in manner, simple and unaffected in lauguage, and of kind 
and gentle disposition, he was athletic in body, undaunted 
In spirit, and inured to hardships. He was especially fit- 
ted to risk the dangers of frontier life. 

About 1838 or 1839 Lawrence settled on the south side 
of Brushy Creek, athoait four miles west from what was 
known as the "Hole in the Rock," in "Williamson county, 
and where he died in 1880, at the ripe age of ninety years. 
A nephew, G. W. Lawpemce, mlay still reside in the vicinity. Ad 
Lawrence is said to have been the first white man who 
crossed Brushy Creek at the place siimieei known as "Law- 
rence's Crossing." He was not only a brave and daring 
Indian lighter, but one of the most expert mustang ropers 
that ever threw a lariat in Texas. On the occasion re- 
ferred to, Lawrence and three companions went out "mus- 
tanging." Far out into the broad prairie a herd of about 
@ne hundred mustangs was sighted, feeding on the tall, lux- 
uriant grass. Asi they cautiously approached, the; horses 
showed 1 mo signs' of flight. Coimlkig nearer, the hum- 
1e»Ts prudently halted, being much surprised that the ani- 
mals exhibited no signs of alarm. An instant later and the 
anomaly was explained in rather a surprising manner. Says 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



91 



Ad!: "The Long- grass of the prairie suddenly; became alive 
with Indians. There was one to each pony, and they all 
mounted at a jump and made for lis at full speed, coiling 
their lariats as they rode. There was no time for swapping 
horses, so we all turned tail and made a straight shoot for 
the nearest settlement on the Trinity, about ten miles off. 
Our animals were all fine, but the nag I rode was a black 
mare, a little ahead of anything in the country for speed 
and bottom. We rather left them the first three miles, 
but then their ponies began to show themselves. I tell you, 
you've no idea how much an Indian can get out of those 
mustangs. Instead of being a weight to them, they seem to 
help them along, and they kept up such a fearful yelling, 
'pears Hike you might have heard them to Red River. We 
noticed that they divided, one half striking of f to the left, 
and we soon found out the reason, for we quickly came to 
the bank of a deep gully or ravine, which had to be head- 
ed; it couldn't be crossed. They knew every inch of the 
ground, and one party made straight for the head of the 
ravine, while the balance struck in 'below to cut us off 
in that direction. 'Twas no use talking — we had to ride 
about a quarter of a mile to the left, right in their very 
faces, and head that branch. My nag was still tolerably 
fresh; the others were beginning to blow right smartly. I 
rode just fast enough to keep in the lead. I didn't care 
particularly about getting off without knowing what be- 
came of my companions. Just as I came to the head of the 
hollow, the Indians were within about a hundred yards, 
and yelling awfully. 

"They thought they had us sure. I gave my mare the 
rein and just touched her with my spur, and turned the 
corner with about fifty arrows whizzing about my ears. 
One stuck in my buckskin jacket, and one in my mare's 
neck. You may believe she didn't go any slower for that — 
for a while I thought she cleared about twenty feet at a 
jump. Soon as I got headed right again, I looked around 
to see what had become of the others. One look showed 
me. They were all down. About half of the redskins had 



92 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



stopped to finish them, and the balance were coming for 
me like red hot lightning. I felt kinder dizzy-like for a 
minute, and then straightened up and determined to get 
away if I could. I hadn't much fear, if I didn't have to 
head another branch. I could see the timber of Trinity 
three miles away, and I gave my mare her own head. She 
had been powerful badly scared, and had been working 
too hard, and she was puffing a good deal. 

"I managed to pull out the arrow which was sticking 
in her neck. Then I worked off my heavy buckskin coat, 
which was flopping about with the arrow sticking in it, 
catching a good deal of wind, and threw it away. I kept 
on about a mile further without gaining or losing much. 
Then I made up my mind to stop and let my nag blow a 
little, because I knew if I didn't she couldn't hold up much 
longer. So I pulled up, and alighted and looked around. 
Seemed as if the whole country was alive with Indians. 
About forty in a bunch a few hundred yards behind, and 
one not a hundred yards off. I loosened my saddle girth 
&o she could breathe good, took my bridle in my left hand, 
and pulled my butcher knife with my right. It was the 
only weapon I had; I had dropped my rifle when I got 
dizzy. The Indian was game. He never stopped until he 
got within ten feet of me. Then he throwed away his bow, 
jumped off, and came at me with a long knife like mine. 
There wasnt time for a long fight. I had made my calcula- 
tions, and he was too sure he had me. He ran full against 
my knife and I left him laying there. I heard an awful 
howl from the others, and I pulled off my heavy boots, 
tightened my girth, and mounted. A few minutes more 
and I struck the timber of the Trinity, and then made the 
best of my way to the river. 

"I knew that for miles, up and down, the banks were 
bluffs and fifteen or twenty feet high. Where I struck 
the river they were fifteen. I knew if my mare wouldnt 
take the leap I had to do it without her. She stopped an 
instant and snorted once or twice; but, hearing the sava- 
ges yell close behind, she took the jump. Down, down we 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



93 



went, full fifteen feet, plump into the deep water. We 
both went under for a second, then she rose, and struck out 
for the opposite bank with me on her back. Poor creat- 
ure, she got about two-thirds across, and then gave out un- 
der me with a groan. I tell you I fairly loved that animal 
at that moment, and hated to leave her as bad as if she 
had been human. 

"I swam the rest of the way and crawled out on the 
tank pretty well used up. But I was safe. I saw the howl- 
ing and disappointed savages come to the bank I had left. 
But not one of them dared to take the leap. And the dis- 
tance was too great for them to shoot. So I rested awhile 
and then made the best of my way to the settlement."* 



♦Lawrence's leap is, perhaps, equalled in American annals only by that of Major Sam 
McCulloch down Wheeling Hill (West Virginia) in 1777. 



CHAPTER VI. 



HEN the sun rose New Year's day, 1833, 
it was confidently hoped by all, and be- 
lieved by most of the struggling colonists 
that it ushered in what was to be a new 
and brighter era for Texas. It was known 
that Santa Anna as President and* Farias 
asi -vice President of Mexico, would be in- 
augurated in April as victorious champions 
of democratic-republican principles and 
pledged to the restoration of the federal 
constitution of 1824 in letter and spirit. It was thought that 
centralism had been trampled in the dust and blood of the 
battle field, never to arise again, that liberty was secure, 
and that all other good things would follow — including a 
separate state government for Texas. The people at this 
time, viewed the Mexican flag with real affection, indulg- 
ing the vain hope that it might forever remain their nation- 
al ensign, guiding the destinies of their descendants. 

But alas! All was soon changed. The mask had now 
been so far removed from the face of Santa Anna, as to 
show him the arch-traitor he was, and) every promise made 
to the people of Texas at the beginning of this year was 
broken before its close 

And now it was that the spirit of revolution began to 
assume form. " About this time," says Burnet, ' ' small 
clouds, the bigness of a man's hand, appeared, heaving up 




BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



m 



from the political horizon of Mexico, and portending chang- 
es which time alone could comprehend or develop. Tiie 
little portentious clouds gradually expanded and gathered 
blackness, until the year 1835, when the sifcorm broke' violent- 
ly upon the confederacy; and Texas, resolute to resist tiie 
imposition of a military despotism, was driven to her final 
and well consummated declaration of independence in 1836. 

Viewing the events of this period from the vantage 
point of today, they are seen to be the seeds from which 
sprang the wonderful future that followed. 

Briefly noting the .records of this year, we find that 
both the American and the Mexican population of Texas 
were clamorous for a separate state government: Jose de 
la Garza, Augel Navarro, Jose Casiamo, Manual Ximenes^ 
Jose Amgel Segudm, Jose M. Zambrano, and Tignacio Ara- 
cha, all prominent and influential citizens of San Antonio., 
addressed a memorial to the Congress of Coahuila and Tex- 
as, in which they called attention to the necessity for a sep- 
arate state government for Texas, and reform of the land 
laws; and at some length reviewed conditions with regard 
to Indian hostilities. They said that Bexar (San Antonio,j) 
was founded in 1693, and La Bahia (Goliad,) and Nacog- 
doches in 1717 ; that in the time that had elapsed, the 
presidios of San Saba, San Marcos, Trinidad and otheir 
military settlements om the rivers Brazos, Colorado, and 
Guadalupe, had been formed and later disappeared with 
the settlements that surrounded them, in some instances ev- 
ery soul being murdered by the savages, the Government 
having utterly failed to redeem its pledges to protect those 
who would undertake to people and civilize the wilderness; 
that since the year 1821 ninety-seven citizens of Bexar, LaBa- 
hia and the new town of 'Gonzales, had been killed by In- 
dians, exclusive of soldiers who perished in various expedi- 
tions ; that further west, settlements had suffered more, and! 
that all were threatened with destruction by the Coxnan- 
ches, who were taking advantage of all troops having been 
withdrawn from Texas, in consequence of military opera- 
tions in Mexico. The memorialists further said that the 



j96 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



paly body of soldiers in Texas consisted of seventy men sup- 
ported by voluntary contributions of citizens of San An- 
tonio. 

The memorial to the Federal Congress drawn up and 
adopted by the American settlers of Texas in convention 
assembled at San Felipe de Austin, in April 1833, and for- 
warded to the capital by commissioner Stephen F. Austin, 
painted even a darker picture : * ' The history of Texas, from 
its earliest settlement to the present time exhibits a series 
Of practical neglects and indifferences too all her peculiar in- 
terests on the part of each successive government which has 
&ad control of her political destinies. ***** Bexar, 
the ancient capital of Texas, presents a faithful, but gloomy 
picture of her general want of protection, and encourage- 
ment. Situated in a fertile, picturesque, and healthful re- 
gion, and established a century and a half ago, (within 
which period populous and magnificent cities have sprung 
into existence), she exhibits only the decrepitude of age 
- — sad testimonials of the absence of that political guard- 
ianship which a wise government should always bestow up- 
on the feebleness of its exposed frontier settlements. A 
hundred! and seventeen yeatrs have elapsed since G-oJi- 
ad and Nacogdoches assumed the distinctive name of 
towns, and they are still entitled only to the diminutive ap- 
pellation of villages. Other military and missionary estab- 
lishments have been attempted but, from the same defect of 
protection and encouragement, they have been swept away, 
and scarcely a vestige remains to rescue their locations 
from oblivion. 

* * Bexar As isitill exposed, to the depredations of her an- 
cient enemies, the insolvent, vindictive, and faithless Com- 
anches. Her citizens are still massacred, their cattle de- 
stroyed or driven away, and their very habitation threat- 
omd by a tribe of erratic and undisciplined Indians, whose 
long continued aggressions have invested them with a ficti- 
tious and excessive terror. Goliad is still kept in con- 
stant trepidation ; is paralyzed in all her efforts for improve- 
ment; and is harassed on all her borders by the predatory 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



97 



incursions of the Wacos, and other insignificant bands of 
savages, whom a well organized local government would 
soon subdue and exterminate." 

But we must desist, lest this should assume the pro- 
portions of a disquisition, involving the reader in the laby- 
rinths of Mexican politics. Rather -our purpose is to re- 
count the more stirring episodes of border warfare — horri- 
ble and atrocious as are the details in most instances. 



SCALPING OF WILBARGER. 

Many incidents in Texas history illustrate the verity 
M. the saying that, "Truth is stranger than fiction," but 
none perhaps, so forcibly as the circumstances of the scalp- 
ing of "Wilbarger — since their dramatic interest includes an 
occurrence as remarkable, if indeed not as mysterious, as 
any to be found within the range of spiritualistic and psy- 
chological literature. 

Among the sturdy emigrants to Austin's Colony, was 
Josiah Wilbarger, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, 
who came with his young bride and his father-in-law, Le- 
man Baker, from Lincoln county, Missouri in 1828. 

In March, 1830, 'after a couple of years spent in what 
is now Matagorda and Colorado counties, Wilbarger loca- 
ted his headright league ten miles above Bastrop on the 
Colorado, and with his wife, baiby, and two cr three tran- 
sient young men, removed to that then 'extreme and great- 
ly exposed section, and erected his cabin. Here, for 
a time, he was the outside settler, but soon other fear- 
less pioneers located along the river, some below, others 
above — the elder Reuben Hornsby becoming, and for several 
years remaining, the outside sentinel of American civiliza- 
tion in that direction. "Mr. Wilbarger," says Brown, "lo- 
cated various lands for other parties in that section, it be- 
ing Austin's second grant above the old San Antonio and 
Nacogdoches road, which crossed at Bastrop." 

Eao-ly in August, 1833, Wilbarger, in company with 
Christiaai, a surveyor, amd 'three young men, Strother, Stand- 



98 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ifer and Hanie, rode out from Hcirnsfty 's to loick at the 
country and locate lands. On reaching a point near Walnut 
Creek, some five or six miles northwest of where the pres- 
ent capital city now stands, they discovered an Indian on 
a neighboring ridge, watching their movements. He was 
hailed with signs of friendship, but as the party approach- 
ed, the Indian rode away, pointing towards a smoke rising 
from a cedar brake to the west. After a short pursuit, fear- 
ing they were being decoyed into a large camp of hostile 
Indians, the whites halted, held a short consultation, and 
at once determined to return to Hornsby's. On Pecan 
Spring branch, some four miles east of Austin, and in 
sight of the present dirt road leading from Austin to Ma- 
nor, they stopped to refresh themselves and horses. * ' Wil- 
barger, Christian and Strother unsaddled and hoppled their 
horses, but Hanie and Standi fer left their animals saddled 
and staked thean to graze." While the men 'were eaiting, 
they were suddenly charged upon by about sixty savages, 
who had quietly stolen up afoot under cover of the brush 
and timber, leaving their hordes "in the rear, and out of 
sight. The t r ees near them were small and afforded but 
little protection. However, each man sprang behind one 
and promptly returned the fire. Strother had been mortal- 
ly wounded at the first fire, and now Christian was struck 
with a ball, breaking his thigh bone. Wilbarger Bpranig 
to the side of Christian, set him up against his tree, primed 
his loaded gun, and jumped again behind his own tree — ■ 
receiving in the operation a flesh wound in the thigh and 
an arrow through the calf of his leg; and scarcely had he 
regained the protection of his tree, when his other leg was 
pierced with an arrow. Meantime, the steady fire and dead- 
ly aim of the whites had telling effect, causing the Indians 
to withdraw some distance and out of range. Up to this 
time Hanie and Standifer had bravely helped to sustain the 
unequal contest, but now, seeing that Strother was dyings 
Christian perhaps mortally, and Wilbarger badly, wounded,, 
they took advantage of the opportunity to secure and 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



99 



mount their horses. Wilbarger, seeing himself thus de- 
serted, and his horse having broke away and fled, im- 
plored the two men to stay with him and fight; but if they 
would not, to allow him to mount behind' one of them.. 
Just then, however, seeing the enemy 'again approaching, 
they fled at full speed, leaving Wilbarger to his fate. "The 
Indians," says Brown, "one having mounted Christian's 
horse, encircled him on all sides. He had seized the guns 
of the fallen men, and just as he was taking deliberate aim 
at the mounted w-arrior, a ball entered his neck, paralyz- 
ing him, so that he fell to the ground and was at the mercy 
of the wretches. 

With exultant yells the Indians now rushed upon, add 
(Stripped him; (naked, and passing a knife entirely around 
his head, tore off the scalp. Though helpless and apparent- 
ly dead, the poor man was fully conscious of all that tran- 
spired, and afterwards, in recounting the thrilling experi- 
ence, said that while no pain was perceptible, the removing 
of his scalp sounded like the ominous rciar and peal of dis- 
tant thunder. The three men were stripped, Ghristiap aind' 
fSftr other scalped andt their thr o&tsi out,, and ail left for deiad; 
after which the savages retired. 

Wiltarger lay in a dreamy, semi-conscious condition 
till late in the evening, when the loss of blood finally aroused 
him. Crazed with the pains of his numerous wounds, and 
consumed by an intolerable thirst, he put forth the little 
remaining vitality in an endeavor to reach the spring near- 
by, which he at last accomplished, dragging himself into 
the water, where he lay for some time, till chilled and quite 
numb, he crawled out on dry land, and fell asleep. When 
he awoke he found the flow of blood from his wounds had 
ceased, but, horrors! exposed in the hot sun, the detestable 
"blow flies" had infested and literally covered his scalp 
and other wounds. Again slaking his thirst from' the lim- 
pid little stream and partially appeasing his hunger with a 
few snails he chanced to find, he felt refreshed, and as. 
night approached, determined to travel as far as he could in 
the direction of Hornsby's. But poor man, he did not re- 



100 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



alize his enfeebled condition from pain and loss of 
blood. After many efforts he arose and staggered 
along for perhaps a quarter of a mile, when he 
sank to the earth thoroughly exhausted, and almost lifeless, 
at the foot of a large post oak tree. Here, naked and ex- 
posed to the chilling night air, he lay, suffering intensely 
from cold, and unable to move, till revived by the warm 
sunshine of the following day. 

On arriving at Hornsby's, the two men, Standifer and 
Hanie, told how the Indians had attacked and killed all 
three of their companions ; and how they had narrowly es- 
caped. A messenger was at once despatched to warn the 
settlers below, and also for aid, which however, could not 
be expected before the following day. 

And mio;w wei will relate a 'most mfarveloius coi-jnieidemce of 
jciircurnvtauicesi — imcidemts at once sot mysterious amid siup»er- 
taatural as to .excite credulity oif belief, were it not for fh© 
thigh character' and' knowm veracity of those, who tot their 
clyitag day, vouched for fefir truth: 

During the night — that long and agonizing night — as 
Wilbarger lay under the old oak tree, "in a state ,of semi- 
consciousness, visions flitting through his mind bordering 
on the marvelous and the supernatural, " he distinctly saw, 
standing before him, the spirit of his sister, Mrs. Margaret 
Cliftcn, vbo had died the day before in Flcirisiacnit, St. Louds 
county, Missouri.* Speakkig gently, she said:- "Brother 
-Josiah, you are too weak to go in alone ! Remain here and 
friends will come to aid you before the setting of another 
-sun." And then moved off in the direction of the settlements, 
Wilbarger piteously calling, "Margaret! Stay with me." 
But the apparition vanished. 

That night, and about the same hour — midnight — Mrs. 



♦John Henry Brown says: "Mrs. Clifton died the day before at Florisant. St. Louis 
county, Missouri. From the county post-office kept by my uncle, Capt. Wm. Kerr, I bore 
the letter, marked "In haste", written by Mr. Clifton to her father informing him of her 
^death." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



101 



Hornsby awoke from a most vivid and startling dreaim, in 
which she beheld Wilbarger, alive, scalped, bleeding and 
naked, at the foot of a tree. Her husband assuring her that 
dreams were always unreal; and the utter impossibility of 
this one being true, she again slumbered — till about three 
o'clock, when she again awoke, intensely excited, and arose 
saying, "I saw him again! Wilbarger is net dead ,! Goto 
the poor man at once;" and so cemfident was Mrs. Hornsby, 
she refused to retire again, but busied herself preparing an 
early breakfast, that there might be no delay in starting to 
Wilbarger's relief. As the nearest neighbors arrived in the 
morning, Mrs. Hornsby repeated to them her dual vision 
and urged them in a most serious manner, to go to Wilbar- 
ger in all haste. The relief party consisted of Reuben 
Hornsby, Joseph Rogers, John Walters, Webber, and others. 
After quite a search from the vague directions of the two 
excited men who had escaped from the scene, they finally 
found the bodies -of Christian and Strother; ard presently 
discovered a most ghastly object — a mass of blood — causing 
them to hesitate and clutch their guns; whereupon the 
overjoyed man arose, beckoned, and finally managed to say 
— "Don't shoot, friends ; it's Wilbarger, come on." As 
they approached he sank down and called out, "Water! 
Water! "and when revived, spoke of his sister who had visit- 
ed him during the night and so kindly had gone for help 
which he knew would come 1 — firmly believing he had seen 
and conversed with her in reality. With the sheets provid- 
ed by Mrs. Hornsby for that purpose, the bodies o^ Stroth- 
er and Christian were wrapped and left till the following 
day, when the party again went .out, and buried them. In 
another sheet Wilbarger was wrapped and placed on a horse 
in front of Mr. Hornsby, who, placing his arms around him, 
sustained him in the saddle and bore him to the hospitable 
home and tender cares of Mrs. Hornsby, that saintly moth- 
er and ministering angel of the frontier. His scalp wound 
was dressed in bear's oil, and after a few days of tender 
nursing, the great loss of blood preventing febrile tenden- 



102 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



cies, he was sufficiently recovered to be placed en a sled 
and conveyed to his own cabin. 

Rapidly Wilbarger recovered his usual health, and lived 
for eleven years, prospering, and accumulating a handsome 
estate. Eut his skull, bereft of the inner membrane and so 
long exposed to the sun, never entirely covered over, neces- 
sitating artifical covering, and eventually caused his death, 
hastened, as his physician, Dr. Andersen, thought, by acci- 
dentally striking his head against the upper portion cf a low 
door frame of his gin house, causing the bore to exfoliate, 
exposing the brain and producing delirium. He died at his 
home in 1845, survived by his wife and five children. . His 
widow, who 'afterward (married Tolbert Chambers, was the 
second time bereft, and died a widow in Bastrop in 1896. 
The eldest son, John Wilbarger, a most gallant ranger un- 
der Col. ''Rip" Ford, was killed by Indians in the Neuces 
River country, in 1847. Harvey Wilbarger, another son, 
lived to raise a large family. One married daughter lives 
at Georgetown, and another at Belton, Texas. Of the 
brothers and sisters of Josiah Wilbarger, who came to 
Texas in 1837, J. W. Wilbarger, (Author of "Indian Depre- 
dations in Texas") died near Round Rock in 1890, and 
"Aunt Sallie" Wilbarger, long resided at Georgetown, 
where she died several years since. Another sister who be- 
came the wife cf Col. W. C. Dalrymple, died many years 
ago, and still another — Mrs. Lewis Jones,- — died on the way 
to Texas. Matthias, a brother, was a noted surveyor, and 
died of smallpox at Georgetown in 1853. 

William Hornsby died in 1901, near Austin, and his par- 
ents many years before. The beautiful home and fertile 
Hornsby farm is still owned by surviving members of the 
family. 

Bo far as we can ascertain, this w T as the first blood 
shed in that part of the State ( in what is now Travis county), 
at the hands of the implacable savages, but it was "the be- 
ginning, -however," says Wilbarger, "of a bloody era which 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



103 



was soon to dawn upon the people of the Colorado."* 

"The vision," continues Wilbarger, "which impress- 
ed Mrs. Hornsby, wasi spoken of far and wide through the 
colony fifty years ago; her earnest manner and) perfect 
confidence that Wilbarger was alive, in connection with 
her vision and its realization, made a profound impression 
on the men present, who spoke of it everywhere. There 
were no telegraphs in those days, and no means of know- 
ing that Margaret, the sister, had died seven hundred miles 
away, on the dey before her brother was wounded. The 
story of her apparition, related before he knew that she 
was dead — her going in the direction of Hornsby 's and Mrs. 
Hornsby 's vision, recurring after slumber, presents a 
mystery that made then a deep impression ard created a 
feeling of awe, which, after the lapse of half a cenutry, it 
still inspires. No man who knew them ever questioned the 
veracity o£ either Wilbarger or the Hornsby 's, and Mrs. 
Hornsby was loved 1 and revered by all who knew her. 

"We leave to those more versed in the occult the task 
of explain irg this mystery. Surely such things are not ac- 
cidents; they tell as of a spirit world and of a God who 
'moves in a mysterious way His 'wanders to; perform.' " 

Other incidents of border warfare occurring this year 
aire of minofr importaaroe and without exact date otr -details: 
as the murder of Alexander, a trapper, near the Ledbetter- 
La Grange road on a small streamlet since called Alexander's 
Brajrichj (ijm Fayette county ; and the killing of one Earth- 
man on Long Prairie, near the present post-office ^amlet 
o^ Nechanitz in the same county; the adventures of Tom 
Alley while out hunting horses m the 'Cummijngs' Creek 
community — unexpectedly riding into a camp of Indians, 
who fired upon and severely wounded him, as he put spurs 
to his steed and fled. Settlers followed these Indians to- 



*Recall ; ng the days of childhood," says John Henry Brown, in writing of Josiah Wil- 
barger and other worthy members of the family in Texas, "when the writer often sat upon 
his lap and received many evidences of his kindly nature, it is a pleasure to state that in 
1858 he enjoyed and embraced the opportunity of naming the county of Wilbarger jointly 
for him and his brother. Mathias, a surveyor." 



104 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ward! the headl of Cnlmimitrigts ' Creek, where the trail was 
lost in consequence of the grass being burned to elude 
further pursuit. 

In the spring of this year a band of Keechi Indians 
raided the Cuimmllnigs ' Creek settlements, in Fayette county^ 
committing various depredations. Hastily collecting a com- 
pany of twenty settlers, Captain John York pursued, at- 
tacked &md killed eight or tern oif them, dispersing t'hie- 
others. This was, so far as known, their last, and perhaps 
only really hostile demonstration against the settlers. The 
Keechis were comparatively a small, insignificant band, of 
beggarly and thievimig propensities, and early lost their tri- 
bal exist emc e., affilaitiinig with other tribes. 

During the same year a traveller named Reed, stopped 
at Tenoxtitlan, Falls of the Brazos, now in the lower part 
of Falls -county. At that time a small party of friendly 
Tonkawa Indians were camped nearby, and with one of 
whom Reed "swapped" horses, and it is said, drove a 
shrewd bargain, which he refused to rule. A few days 
later, <as the stranger left the vicinity cn his return to the 
United States, he was waylaid and murdered by the exas- 
perated Tonkawas, who appropriated his horse and equip- 
ments and fled. The old Caddo chief, Canoma, who was 
about the settlements a good deal, and! theirn at the "Falls," 
with some of his warriors, went im pursuit amdl 'Cini the 
eighth day, returned with seven "Tonk" scalps, Reed's, 
horse and other trophies — receiving the substantial commen- 
dation of the settlers. The sad fate of Canoma at the 
hands of the whites to whom he was ever friendly and 
faithful, some two years later, will be related in the order 
of its occurrence.* 

"Other matters of interest," isayis John Henry Brown,. 
1 'occurred in and about 1833. The colony of De Leon had 



♦ The Tonkawas ever professed friendship to the whites, and being hereditary ene- 
mies of the Comanches, often joined the settlers and rangers in expeditions against this-, 
tribe, rendering valuable and valiant services. Kenney says, "This is the solitary instance- 
of hostility by the Tonkawas in their long and trying experience of more than fifty, years 
contact with the white people from the first settlement of Texas." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



increased considerably by the incoming o f a good class of 
Mexicans and quite a number of Americans, including sev- 
eral Irishmen and their families from the United States,, 
the younger members being (natives of that ccutntry, and 
among wholm were the f o&lciwiing : Johb McHemry (a settler 
simice 1826), John Linn, and his sons, John J., Charles? 
Henry and Edward, and two daughters, (subsequently the 
wives of Maj. James Kerr and James A. Moody), whio came? 
in 1830-31; Mrs. Margaret Edbo, afterwards Wright, (who? 
came in 1825), Joseph "Ware and others. Prom about 1829* 
to 1833-34, the colonists of Power aind Howitson, wilth head^- 
quarters at the Mission of Refugio, and McMullen and Me- 
Gloin, of which San Patricio was the capital, received val- 
uable additions in a worthy, sober, industrious class of peo- 
ple, chiefly from Ireland, a few of Irish extraction, born 
ami the "United States, and. others who wiebe Americans j. 
They were more exposed to Mexican oppression than the- 
icoiloinistsi farther east and equaHy so to hostile Indians."*' 
Glancing at the history of colcint-al Texas aboult this* 
period, one can but wonder at the sigrs cf substantial and 
permanent growth, despite all restrictions and obstacles.. 
The spirit of colonization was abroad, and fearless emi- 
grants were constantly arriving overland by the various^ 
highways** — menaced though they were by lurking siavageis, 
who often lay in ambush to pounce upon the new-comers, 
"In 1833," says Pease, "the tkliei of >emmgnaticfcii fremi the 1 
United States, which had been interrupted during the ad- 



*It is of interest to note that 26 of thes Q colonists signed the Goliad Declaration of In- 
dependence, Dec. 20, 1835, and four of them signed the regular Declaration of Texas Inde- 
pendence, March 2, 1836. 

**The late venerable pioneer, I. D. Parker, says: "My father's family came to Texas 
in 1833. At that time the San Antonio road was the only highway running through Texas. 
It led from Nachedoches, in Louisiana, to San Antonio, and thence to the Rio Grande— via 
Nacogdnches, Tenoxtitlan on the Brazos, Mina (n.->w Eastrcp) on the Colorado, and thence 
to San Antonio, crossing the San Marcos near the mouth of the tlanco. James Gaines kept 
a ferry on the Sabine River, Joseph Durst on the Angeline, Leonard Williams on the Neches, 
Nathaniel Robbins on the Trinity, Jeremiah Timeon on the Navasota, and Wm. Boren on 
the Brazos. The La Bahia (Goliad) road left the Sati Antonio road three miles west of the 
Trinity River, crossing the Brazos at the site of the present town of Washington, where 
Jack Hall kept a ferry, and thence to Goliad." — Unpublished ".Reminiscences of Pioneer 
Life in Texas." MS. p. 1. 



106 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ministration of Bustamente, began again to flow into the 
country. ' ' 

"The history of frontier expansion in the United 
States" says Thrall, "shows that it is no easy task. In 
Texas the difficulties were very great. It was remote from 
other settlements — in a foreign country, with a government 
and institutions entirely different from those of the North; 
spd the country was pre-occupied by Indians. Consider- 
ing all these circumstances, the success of Austin and 
otheirs in introducing Anglo-American colonists, was won- 
derful. If we inquire into the grounds o? this success, we 
shall find it in the character 'Olf the men,. 'They were brave, 
hardy, industrious men, self-helpful and self-reliant. They 
asked no favors of the Government, and that Government let 
them severely alone. Their stout airmis cultivated their 
farms and protected their homes from the incursions of the 
savages. Volumes might be written, detailing instances of 
individual bravery — of hardships cheerfully endured by old 
and young, male and female coltondists. "* 



THE MADDEN MASSACBE. 

The Madden family came to Texas in 1832, locating 
$ieacr the Trimity in Houston county. T!o better secure 
themselves in case of an attack from Indians, some three 
or Sour neighboring families, as was frequently the case in 
those days, had joined together and built a strong double 
log cabin with entry between, and where they all resided, 
opening and cultivating small fields near iby,. 

The awful, bloody and heart-rending tragedy we must 
•jaow relate — the opie of oinly two such instances on record 
*n which the fair name and courage of Texas pioneers has 
been disgraced with cowardice — occurred in the fall of the 
year, and during the moonlight nights, the time usually se- 
lected by the red men for making their raids. 

On the fatal night, four men, eight women and several 



♦ "Pictorial History of Texas," pp. 171-2. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



107 



children were occupying the house. For a time all were 
in one room, but the men, leaving their guns, went into the 
adjoining room, and kindling a fire, busied themselves 
molding bullets. Meantime the lurking savages, a party 
of Caddos, had crept up and around the buildings, cauti- 
ously peering in and ascertaining the defenseless situation 
of the unsuspecting inmates. As tine fulil orbed moon arose, 
casting its soft and tranquil flood of light upon the scene, 
the stillness of the night was suddenly rent by war whoops 
.ajnd) yelilsi fiendlish (enough to .chill it'he strongest heart, 
and indeed strike terror to helpless women and children ; 
at the same time forms, hideous as these of the under 
world, arose from brush and coveit and rushed from every 
direction into the hallway, and most of them, in upon the 
terrified women and children, one powerful and hideous 
demon, guarding the doorway by spreading his arms and 
legs from side to side and grasping the lintels with his 
hands, all the while yelling and gloating rapturously over 
the bloody, sickening scene ojf death wrought within. Mrs. 
Madden was first attacked and. soon fell apparently life- 
less, but regaining consciousness ciawled under a bed fol- 
lowed by one of her little sons. Another lady was toma- 
hawked and fell dead into the fireplace, her life's blood 
flowing so profusely as to extinguish the flames, and leave 
the fiends to complete the slaughter in semi-darkness. Tak- 
ing advantage of this, and the engrossed attention of the 
door guard, Mrs. Madden with her little ison succeeded in 
crawling out of the room, and making her way to an unoc- 
cupied negro cabin a short distance away, where she secret- 
ed herself and child and thus escaped. Meanwhile, with tom- 
ahawk and scalping knife the savages completed their dia- 
bolical work, killing in all seven women and children. 

As to the four men — we only refer to them through 
necessity of completing the narrative — it is said, that as 
soon as the dying groans of their wives and children reached 
their ears, they daslhed out of the room and escaped. 

Securing the guns of the whites, the Indians now set 



108 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



fire to the bualding, which consumed 1 it, witthi the bodies of 
their victims. Nearby they threw down their own in- 
ferior gums and left the settlement without pursuit. 

After a long and doubtful illness, Mrs. Madden recov- 
ered and lived several years. 



CHAPTER VII. 



HE year 1834 we are told, was ushered in 
by a "freezing" norther — fitting precur- 
sor of the cold indifference with which the 
Mexican nation looked upon their Ameri- 
can colonists in Texas. Political events 
had assumed a still worse complexion in 
Texas at this date. 

Santa Anna,, havkiig received the support 
of the army and church, went over to the 
centralist party, dissolved the constitution- 
al congress, convened one composed of his creatures, and 
became virtually the dictator of Mexico. 

In the spring Santa Anna assembled a council, com- 
posed of Stephen F. Austin, Lorenzo Zavala, three members 
of the ecfrugress of Coahuiila and Texas, and seven Mexican 
officials, to consider affairs in Texas. Austin made a 
strong plea in favor of the memorial of the Texas conven- 
tion of 1833. The three members of congress, all of whom 
were from Coahuila, opposed it. Santa Anna announced his 
decision to be that Texas should have a separate government, 
and that four thousand troops should be stationed at San 
Antonio for the protection of the country — to which Austin 
strenuously objected, but without effect. This opposition 
on the part of Austin, doubtless had much, to do with the 
continuance of his imprisonment. 




110 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



An attempt to change the seat of governmnt of Coa- 
huila and Texas from Saltillo to Monclova, led to commo- 
ticns that resulted in rival governors and legislatures being 
installed at the two places, and the Mexican part of the 
Slate being divided into two factions. These difficulties 
were ref erred to Santa Anna in December, who decided that 
the capital should remain at Monclova, and ordered new 
elections. 

'There were two parties in Mexico — the centralist and 
republican, the latter not being completely crushed. There 
were also two in Texas — one favoring immediate and deter- 
mined action for separate state government and co-opera- 
tion with the patriot republican's of Mexico; the other fa- 
voring acquiescence in the existing status, at least until 
Austin's release and return to Texas, amd until it should 
definitely appear what Santa Anna's policy was to be. The 
latter party in Texas prevailed for the time being. 

This year did not pass away without the usual out- 
rages by Indians. No historical record has been preserved 
of many of these events, but ample evidence has been left 
that proves the Indians annoyed the colonists more or less. 
Speaking of the Comanches and alluding iiiucidemtaily |bo> 
other tribes, Kenaey says: "During 1823 and 1834 their 
name does not appear in the hostilities ascribed to known 
tribes; but Indian hostilities in general would blacken 
many pages." 

Pioneer Dewees, in his "Letters from 'Texas," writing 
under date, "Colorado River, Texas. Oct. 31, 1834," says: 
"The first storm of Mexican wrath is lulled; but the In- 
dians, who have ever been our enemies, still continue to an- 
noy us. They will fall upon small parties of men, and kill 
them, and also steal our horses and cattle. Indeed such a 
tiling as being free from the molestations of tlhe Indiams 
has never been known in the history of Texas, and doubt- 
less, will not be known for many years to come."* 



♦Decree No. 278 of Coahuila and Texas, enacted April 19, 1834, authorizes the gover- 
nor to organize and employ militia against hostile Indians, places 400 sitos cf land at hie 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Ill 



While the records stipply materials for accounts of thril- 
ling incidents that transpired within the limits of Austin's 
and De Witt 's Colonies, little reliable data is obtainable that 
relates to Indian troubles in the early settlement of Red 
River county, and the niortheastern part of the State. 

"Although dim vistas appear," says John Henry 
Brown, "of inroads! by Indians — rollers and occasional 
murders by Gooishatties, Tehua can-as, Wacos, and other tribes 
— it is lamentable that not one of those early settlers ever 
wrote, or caused to write, an account of such events until 
age impaired the memory. Henice the narrative we gather, 
lacks) that certainty and definiteness, so. desirable in such, 
matters." 

These observations are emphasized by the confused 
and conflicting stories that have been preserved concern- 
ing the killing of Judge Gabriel N. Martin and the capture 
of his little son in May or June, 1834. 



MURDER OF JUDGE GABRIEL N. MARTIN— CAPTIVI- 
TY AND RECOVERY OF HIS LITTLE SON- 
SOME CORRECTED HISTORY. 

'The accounts published by Thrall, Wilbarger and Sow- 
ell, mention only one expedition for the recovery of the 
boy, and place it in the year 1834. They differ as to what 
officer commanded the United States military force, some 
saying Leavenworth, and later Dean, and others, Col. (in 
after years Gen.) Dodge. Radical discrepancies exist with 
regard to the circumstances attending the killing of Judge 
Martin, and whether a negro was captured with the boy. 
One version is that the hunting party had mounted the rise 
of a hill and while watching a herd of buffalo, was charged 
upon by the Indians ; and that Judge Martin and son fell 
behind and the Judge was killed, and the boy and negro 
man were made prisoners. 



disposal for distribution to militiamen as remuneration for their services on Buch terms as 
he might establish, and appropriates $20,0^0.00 to further aid in the accomplishment of the 
§nds proposed. 



112 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Others give a wholly different recital — one saying the 
Italians were Pawmtaeisi aind that Judge Martin and a 
negro man were killed in camp. Careful sifting of the evi- 
dence, renders it certain that there were two expeditions 
for the recovery of the boy — one in 1834 and the other in 
1836, and that the United States dragoons in the first year 
were commanded by Dean, and in the latter year by Dodge. 
Sowell possibly confuses and blends together as happening 
in 1834, events that occurred in both years. 

That Martin was killed in May cr June, 1834, and that 
the boy was recovered in 1836, majnly thtrtopghi (the instru- 
mentality of Col. Dodge, are the main points, and about 
which there is little or no doubt. 

Fortunately, through access to the official itinerary of 
■Col. ECenry Dodge, in command of the United States 
-cavalry, or ''mounted rangers, 77 and then on an observation 
and treaty-making tour among the "wild Indians of the far 
west;" supplemented and corroborated by the "notes' 7 of 
Catlin, the artist, who accompanied this expedition, we are 
enabled to give the reader an elaborate and reliable narra- 
tive of this notable affair. 

Judge Martin was one of the early and prominent citi- 
zens of Pecan Point, in Red River coumity, Texas, and a som J 
in-law of that still earlier and staunch pioneer, Claiborne 
"Wright, who landed at Pecan Point after a most hazardous 
keel-boat voyage of six months down the Cumberland, the 
Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, to the mouth of Red 
River, and thence up that stream, arriving at his destina- 
tion on the 5th. day of September, 1816. 

Martin was of a bold and fearless nature, fond of hunt- 
ing and outdoor life. In the latter days of May or first 
part of June, with a small partv composed of himself, his 
little son, Matthew W., a negro playmate of the lat- 
ter, Daniel Davis, James and Robert Gamble, Zack Bottom, 
(a negro servant who had been partly raised among the In- 
dians), and a few other compilers, 'wdnt out ion sa hunt- 
ing and pleasure trip, higher up Red River, pitching camp 
•n a small stream— Sowell says Glass Creek — presumably 



SCALPING OF WILBARGER 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



in the upper portion of what i» mwr Graysoin cofunity. 

They had been here several, weeks.,.' njodi&turbed, wh*en 
they became careless and scattered, as each, saw fit, from, 
day to day, to hunt. On such an occasion, when none but 
the elder Martin, the little negro, atnd Bottom, the servant, 
were in camp, a party of Indians suddenly attacked them, 
killed the Judge and negro boy — " because he fought so 
desperately and screamed) so loud" — plundered] the camp and 
retreated. Zack Bottom, the old servant, escaped, barefooted, 
and eventually, after much suffering and almost famished, 
reached the settlements. 

The other members of the party, including Martin's 
son, it appears, discovered the Indians after the killing and, 
as they were retreating, in this way : while on the prairie- 
divide between' the Washita and Red Rivers, they noticed a 
herd of excited buffalo coming over the ridge and at once sus- 
pected they were disturbed by Indians. As they reached 
the top of the ridge the Indians were in full view and not 
far away. Cutting loose their buffalo meat and game, they 
ran at full speed for Red River, and all effected their escape 
and made their way to the settlements — all save young Mar- 
tin, who became separated and was soon overtaken and cap- 
tured. 

Writing from the mouth of False Washita, July, 1834, 
Catlin, the artist, says:- ' 'The cruel fate of Judge Martin 
and family has been published in the papers, and it belongs 
to the regiment of dragoons tlo demand the surrender of the 
murderers and get for the information of the world, some 
authentic account of the mode in which this horrible out- 
rage was committed. 

" Judge Martin was a very respectable and independent 
man, living on the lower part of Red River, and in the 
habit of taking has children, and one or two servants with 
him, and a tent to live in, every summer, into the wild re- 
gions, where he pitched his tent upon the prairie and spent 
several months in ki ling buffalo and other wild game for his 
own private amusement. The news came to Fort Gibson, 
but a few weeks before we started, that he had been set 



114 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



upon by a party of Indians, and destroyed. A detachment of 
troops was speedily sent to the spot, where. they found his 
body horribly mangled, and also one of his negroes; and it 
is supposed that his son, a fine boy of nine years of age, 
had been taken home to their villages by them, where they 
still retain him, and where it is our hope to recover him. 

"Camp Washita, July 4, 1834. Geai. LeiavenwortOi de- 
clares his intention of sending Col. Dodge with 250 mem 
to the Pawnee village. 

"Under the protection of the United States dragoons, I 
arrived at this place three days since on my way again in 
search of the 'Far West.' How far I may this time fol- 
low the flying phantom, is uncertain. I am already again 
in the land of the buffalos and the fleet bounding ante- 
lopes. We are at this place on the banks of Red River,, 
having Texas under our eye on the opposite bank. We aire 
encamped on the ground on which Judge Martin and servant 
were butchered, audi his son kidnapped by the Pawnees or 
Comanches, but a few weeks since; and the moment they 
discover us in a 'large body, they will presume that we are 
relentlessly seeking for revenge, and they will probably be 
very shy of our approach. We are ever the Washita — the 
'Rubicon is passed' — we are invaders of a sacred soil. We 
are carrying the war in our front,, and 'we shall soon see 
what we shall see.' 

"Jully 22. — At the Toy ash village, Col. Dodge and sev- 
eral of his officers met, agreeably to previous notice , the 
Toyash chiefs and warriors in council. Council being in or- 
der, Col. Dodge proceeded to speak as follows: — 'We are 
the first American officers who have ever come to see the 
Pawnees; we meet you as friends, not as enemies, to make 
peace with you, to shake hands with you. The great Amer- 
ican captain is at peace with all the white men in the world ; 
he wishes to be at peace with all the red men in the world ; 
we have been sent to view this country, and to invite you to 
go to Washington, where the great American chief lives, to 
make a treaty with him, that you may learn how he wishes 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



115 



to send among you traders, who will bring you guns and 
blankets, and everything that yon w r ant.' 

" As the conim«cil proceeded Dodge referred to the foul 
killing of Judge Martin, and the capture of his little son — 
also the capture of one Abbe, a ranger, the previous year. 
Evading reply as to the killing of Martin, the chief, Wa- 
ter-ra-sbah-ro, a veiryi dignified warrior of more than sev- 
enty years, replied! that he had learned 'the Indians who 
lived near St. Antonio,' in Mexico (Texas), captured Abbe, 
and that they killed him on Red River; the white boy is 
here.' To which Col. Dodge replied: 'I wish the boy 
brought to me,' at the same time informing the chiefs that, 
as an evidence of his friendly intentions towards them, he 
had on starting, purchased at a very great price, from their 
enemies, the Osages, two Pawnee and one Kiowa, girls, 
which had been held by them some time as prisoners; and 
which he had there ready to deliver ito their friends and 
relatives, in exchange for white prisoners held by the Paw- 
nees. The little boy was now brought in from! the middle of 
a corn 1 field where they had hid him. The little fellow was 
entirely naked, except the scant dress worn by the children, 
o-f the tribe. He was a very bright and intelligent lad of 
eight or nine summers. His appearance caused considerable 
excitement and commotion in the council room, and as the 
little fellow gazed around' in great surprise, he exclaimed, 
'What; are there white men here?' to which Col. Dodge 1 re- 
plied by asking him his name — 'Matthew Wright Martin' — 
was the prompt reply. He was them received into; the arms 
of Col. Dodge, and the captive Indiam ,girls brought in and 
soon recoigized by their overjoyed friends and relatives, who 
embraced them with the most extravagant expressions <of joy. 
From this moment the 1 council, which before had been a very 
grave and uncertain one, took a pleasing and friendly (turn. 
The heart of the venerable old chief was melted at the evi- 
dence of the white mam's friendship. He at once embraced 
Col. Dodge and each of the officers in turn, with tears 
streaming down his cheeks." 

Futrther quotimg Catlin: "August 13th, * * * reached the 



116 



BORDER WARS 01? TEXAS. 



Settlements at the north fork of the Canadian * * * informed, 
by a citizen, that the mothier of little Martin has recently of- 
fered! $2,000 for nie recovery ; she will .stoon he made happy 
by his (restoration, without ransom or reward. 

''The little boy of whom I have spoken, was brought in, 
the whole distance to Fort Gibson, in the airms of the dra- 
goons, who took turns in carrying him; and after the com- 
mand reached there, he was transmitted to the Red River 
settlements by ani officer, who had the enviable satisfaction 
of delivering him into the arms of his disconsolate and' h alf - 
distracted mother. ' '* 

'Thus we have \then true version of Judge Martini death 
and (the (rescue ©£ his little sion from captivity — honoring 
those to 'wnom honor is due. Other matters coj-incident with 
and f oirfminig a part of tbe sad story, though without concert 
of acticia or knowledge of results,, have not been noticed. 
"We <retf er to an expedition or party of neighbors and settlers 
lead by Gap tain Stiles, and which lefit for fhc scene of the 
tragedy, and in search ©if the captured son, soon after the 
sad news reached the settletmenit. Brief knowledge of the 
movements of this 1 fearless little party of settlers, boldly 
pern etriait'i nig fair into the country of numerous hostile bands 
•and tribes, is obtained from am unpublished narrative- pre- 
pared by John Henry Brown from data supplied by Geo. W. 
"Wright,, cne off the party, afterward a prominent citizen and 
representative, and a brother *£ Mrs. Martin, the account, 
howeveri, a/11 tool brief and lacking dates and details : 

"On leiain'inig of the murder of Judge Martin land the' 



* Judge Martin left a widow, who afterwards married a Dr. Bason, and two sons, 
Matthew W. and William, and one daughter, Louisiana. Both the sons made good citizens, 
and the daughter a most estimable lady. 

Among the traditions of the Wright family, is a story that while residing at Pecan 
Point, to avoid night attacks from the Indians, the family would move across the river each 
night and secrete themselves until morning, when they would all return to the cabin. The 
ferry consisted of drift logs lashed together as a raft. The mother and daughter (after- 
wards wife of Judge Martin) and a negro girl were placed upon the raft, which waa then 
towed across the river by the older brother and father swimming by the side of it and pull- 
ing it along with them, while the two smaller boys, Travis G„ and George W., (afterwards 
prominent citizens of Paris, Texas) swam along behind the raft, holding on to it. To pre- 
vent the children talking and attracting the attention of the Indians, they were always kept 
separated in the cane.— "Encyclopedia of the New West." p. 372. 



BORDER WARS GF TEXAS. 



117 



capture of little Matthew Wright Mantilm, thirty forave men,' 
assetmbled, chose 1 Captaim Richard Stiles* as their leader, and 
guided by Hardy, the coLored imam, repaired to the campy 
buried Judge Maintim amd the little cofored boy, and them 
followed omi the trail of the Imdiansi — how far 'amd under 
what cikeumstamees, does not clear y appear. It is certain, 
however, that north of Red River and west of the Washita, 
they encountered a large party of Indians and were com- 
pel ed to fight heavy odds, in which they defended 
themselves with the loss of one man and one horse killed, 
and one man had a thigh broken. Though more or less an- 
noyed by the enemy they retreated to, and crossed the 
Washita, near which they f ell in with Capt. Dean in com- 
mand o* a company of United States dragoons, with whom 
they camped for several days, and then returned home. 

"The wouindedi qnani was tfaken in charge by the U. S. 
surgeon, conveyed to Fort Gibson and recovered; but Mr. 
Wright failed to give either his name, that of the man 
killed, or of any other of the thirty one men, excepting" 
Oapt. Stiles and himself. In my view of pioneer life each of 
those men was a hero and entitled to< be so remetmibered. 
Doubtless some of their children and giramdchildren are am 
the country mow lamd iigmorant of these tlhijngs. Such is fate. 
Aggregate achievements amd deeds of the many, as too much 
professed history goes, are awarded to a lucky few. Not,' 
truly, by design, but by a carelessness almost criminal, in 
not giving, after so great a lapse of time, the names of the 
men composing such daring parties in those early days. Mr. 
Wright wrote in 74 of this daring expedition in '34, in 
which he participated; yet he failed to name a single com- 
rade, fix a single date, the number of days occupied in 
any portion or all of the expedition, or to definitely fix a 
single locality that could be identified. Had he wrkitem ear- 
lier, Mis narrative would have supplied these omissions, for 
he was a clear headed, just man, personally familiar with 
the settlement of that country frotm its imeepitioni omward: 
Fnomu Mr. Robert "E. Frazier, I have learned that ' Hardy,' 
the brave old Indian-trained negro, was the guide, and that 



118 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Zack Bottom, who escaped when Martin was killed, was in 
it, as I am quite sure the ever faithful Henry Stout was." 

FRONTIER TROUBLES. ! 

We cannot better close the earr-aticm of events of (border 
warfare in 1834, than by the introduction of a highly iinterest- 
ing letter* .panned by one o£ it'bet elarly piofneters — John T.* 
Townsend, and addressed to the old ranger chief, Capt. 
John S. Ford. The letter is quite reminiscent, and sheds 
much light on the frontier history of Texas at that >early 
day — anticipating briefly, las it does,, some otf the thrilling' 
events that wiiM be marriatied in detail, in the order of their 
Ojccurr^nce. But to tlbe letter: 

- Eagle Plass, Texas, Jan. 20, 1893. 
Col. John S. Ford: Dear Sir: — 

Remembering your request for something in regard to 
events of olden times in Texas; and being somewhat in a rem - 
iniscfent mootd 'after meeting <anjd cionversing with somje of the 
desieondeaitsi here cif (the oldest settlers of 'Texas, I wtriJte you 
a short statefmcimt 01 sarnie in Qt able incidepitsi that I baviai 
ftnever known published in amy Texas history. 

■ Im 1834 of 1 1835 t , I aim 'almost sure the ialtter, the Ccim- 
anches came down. They passed our settlement on Cum- 
mings' Creek on their way down. In Austin county, on 
Mill Creek, they stole scimte borseis. The Americans collect- 
ed to follow them. My father, Stephen Townsend, and his 
brothers accompanied them in the pursuit. They left my 
mother, a sister of mine, who is now the wife of Hon. James 
C.Gaither of Falls county, myself, a netgro woimiafn aind beer 
little scfn, twio or thnee years old. The Americans had left 
my grandfather's, John G-. Robinson's, three or four miles 
distant from us, a few days previously, and we were at the 
Robinson place. My mother and grandmother, feeling as- 
sured that the Texans were between us and all danger from 
the Indians, sent the negro woman to our plaoe ^or some 
clothes. She carried her little boy with her. On her return 
the Indians met her on the road, killed her, ajnd carried «off 
the negro boy as a prisoner. Thev opened the bundle she 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



119 



was carrying" but took nothing from it. This occurred ex- 
actly on the spot where the towini of Ronjnld! Tqp, Fayettef 
county, now stands. The bones oif the negro woman lie uin- 
der an oak tree near the center of the town. This occurred 
previous to 1836. 

The Rev. Mr. Thrall in his history of Texas, gives a 
very short account of my grandfather and his brother, Wal- 
ter Robinson, being killed in the spring of 1837. Judge 
Sam Lucky, who died in your city, San Antonio, was once 
chief justice of that county, and also represented it in the 
ccimgnetss of tfhe Texas Republic. He came from Georgia 
with Walter Robinson, and was at my grand father's house 
when the killing took place. 

"He wais a gentleman oif 'ability amid uindouihted coiurage. 
He was one of Colonel Jack Hays' company of rangers. 
When Col. Hays was sent forward to bring on an engage- 
ment with the Mexicans under General Woll, Judge Lucky 
was shot through the body. He lived a number of years 
afterwards, but never recovered frcm itlue effects elf the 
wound. The Authoress of "Beulah" and other works, 
Mrs. Augusta J. Evans, was his niece. She was one time a res- 
ident of San Antonio. 

Joel W. Robinson was one of the party which captured 
General Santa Anna the day after the battle of San Jacin- 
to and delivered him to General Sam Houston. He lived to 
a good, ripe old age. He was respected by all classes of 
Texas citizens. 

Another matter happened not far frcim t'hie time tmetn- 
tioned above. There lived about sixty miles below La 
Grange, a, main named Ross. He traded with the Tonka- 
way Indians for horses they stole from the Comanche In- 
dkins. This was the cause K)f trouble between the white set- 
tlers and the Comanches, and was considered the cause of 
those Indians becoming hostile. Ross paid very little for 
a horse. He*, carried them to the United States and sold 
them. He came back with goods and sold them at immense 
profits to the Tonkaways. In their war with the Com- 
anches they had not been successful, and had been so weak- 



120 BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



«Ded by losses that they came inside the Texas settlements 
for protection from their enemies. They had a permanent 
eamp near Ross' plaee. A crowd of from thirty to eighty 
men was raised. They intended to drive away the Tonka- 
ways, and to notify them to stop the theft of Comanche 
horses for the reasons already set forth. Ross was drink- 
ing when they approached his house. He was a reckless, 
desperate man. He began firing on the Americans as they 
came within rifle distance. He continued to do so until shot 
down. My father and grandfather were with the company 
of Americans, but took no hand in killing Ross. This af- 
fair occurred in 1834. Desperate as the reimedy was, it 
failed to cure the disease. The Comanches had become so 
incensed that they proceeded a/t ctoicei to steia(L : ffig horses; and 
killing men and women wherever they found them unpro- 
tected. Up to this time they had beein friendly with the 
whites or at least inoffensive. This state of thing® continued 
until long after the annexation of Texas to the United States. 
In fact, until Texas become suffiokoitly s-etitlted bjy Ataieinieattis 1 
to enable them to protect themselves. 

One of the movements dleteiriing the Imdiamis from setnd- 
ing expeditions into Texas was the killing off of the numer- 
ous herds of buffalo grazing upon the staked plains. When 
the outside world became conscious that thei slaughtering oi* 
buffailo was goin»g forward, amdl was perfipetiratied otnly foir 
the' iskcins, ttiiei bodies being left uinitoncheid tot become food for 
the wolves or to rot, the conductors of newspapers denounc- 
ed the proceeding as cruel and inhuman. The writer look- 
ed at results from a different standpoint. The Comanches 
ha-d been enabled to use the buffalo in their robbing expedi- 
tions upon the people of Texas. If these animals were 
some distance from a settlement, ithieyt wertet drivcpi dowm 
the country a proper distance and left to graze. The red 
gentlemen could tell pretty wteill where the drove cotuld be 
found in a given number of days. They would visit the set- 
tlements, murder and rob. When they returned, they travel- 
ed at great speed until the herd of buffalo w« reached. At 
that point they would eat, sleep and recruit. After the ani- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



121 



mals had been slaughtered, the Comanches had no commis- 
sariat. The journey to a settlement was long and tedious 
with but little to eat on the way. After the; advejat of the 
cattlemen it was a hazardous undertaking. Brave men with 
repeating rifles and pistols stood in the way. The destruc- 
tion of the vast herds of buffalo effected as much for the 
security of Texas as a large standing army across the 
country from the Red River to ithe Rio Grande, could have 
done. 

For many years we confidently expected the Comanches 
to come among us every full mocoi, ku consequence; of which r 
every man who had any patriotism, prepared himself ajod 
was ready at a moments warning to go after them. 

There was a small remannt of a tribe led and controlled 
by a very sensible Indian, named Canoma, who always held 
himself ready to serve the whites as guide and spy. He 
was not to be found on one occasion, when the Americans 
were going out on a campaign against the Comanches. Af- 
ter they had gone some distance they found Canoma with 
some horses that had been stolen. He declared that he had 
taken them from the Comanches and intended to return 
them to their owners. He irsisted that if the Americans 
Would give him a chance he would take them to the Com- 
anches and thus demonstrate his dmmioeettiice. As its ofiteoithe 
case, some of the Americans were so incensed that they 
killed Canoma. Some of the men on the spot — my father 
and John Rabb — were among those who opposed the killing. 
"When they found it impossible to prevent it they left the 
company rather than witness what they deemed murder. I 
have often heard them speak of it when I was a boy with 
the deepest regret. Johra T. Towaisettid. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



IE WED from the historian's standpoint, 
1835 marks a most important epoch — the 
great tunning point in the history of Tex- 
as. The revolution that achieved Texas in- 
dependence began in this year— ™t, how- 
ever, with that end in view, hut as a move- 
ment to (overthrow the despotism estab- 
lished by Santa Anna and to restore consti- 
tutional government. So distinguished a 
writer as Ex-President Roosevelt has fallen into the error 
of charging that the separation of Texas from Mexico, was 
deliberately planned by the restless and resistless American 
settlers. The people of Texas did not make the issue. It 
was foirced' upctn tihem. They had to choose between resist- 
ance, or submission to a tyrany — to free-born, liberty-lov- 
ing Americans — worse than death. Referring to the con- 
quest of Texas, Mr. Roosevelt isitrikesi the key note of touth, 
however, when he says: '"The Govermmieinft of the limited 
States :had nothmg to do witlh winning Texas for the Eng- 
lish-speaking people of North America. The American frbnt- 
iersmien won Texas for themselves, unaided either by states- 
men who con.tr ell eid the politics of the Republic, or by the 
soldiers wiho took tihedr orders from! Washington. "* 




* Theodore Roosevelt's "The Winning of the West." Page 186. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



123 



"A self-reliant people," saya Thrall, 1 1 whose interests 
and liberties are imperiled, will mot long lack the means nec- 
esisary for concert of action. Texas was threatened with 
invasion by a governiment to which it had' a right tto look 
for protection. Again, the Indians were more or less troub- 
lesome. Ostensibly to provide for ^protection against 
these savages, 'committees of safety were organized in dif- 
ferent municipalities. It was the business of these commit- 
tees to collect and disseminate information, to secure arms 
and ammunition, and in case of necessity, to caT out and 
drill the militia."* 

In presenting the facts leading up to the revolution, 
historian Briown, says: "The situation was rendered more 
gloomy by evidences of increased hostilities on the part of 
the savages along the whole line <oif frontier frctm the Red 
River to the extreme southwest." 



MASSACRE OF THE TRADERS. — FIGHT 
ON THE SAN MARCOS. 

Following the second and successful, settlement of Gon- 
zales, after its tragic breaking up in 1826, the town and com- 
munity prospered — escaped further serious incursions ; the In- 
dians, over-aiwed doubtless by the exhibition and occasional 
firing of a four pound brass cannon,** presented by the 
Mexican authorities in 1831, to the oitizens of that exposed 
hamlet fior protection. As De Witt's Colcny now gave evi- 



* Prior to the meeting of the Consultation, the committee of vigilance, safety and 
correspondence at Nacogdoches, with the central council, took action to conciliate the civ- 
ilized Indians, assuring them that the Consultation would recognize and safe-guard 
their rights. They also sent mounted rangers to the border of the terrritory occupied by 
tne wild tribes. 

"Great uneasinees was felt at this time," says Morrell, "relative to Indian depreda- 
tions. There were fears of a general outbreak, predicated upon the amount of horse 
stealing going on through the country since the war between the Americans and Mexicans. 
The Mexicans were evidently encouraging all the wild tribes to exterminate the colonists. 

"General Houston now had use for all his ingenuity among the Indians to evade the 
fatal catastrophe. The war between the Indians and colonists was also being hurried on by 
the land speculators, as their lands were valueless without an increase of population in 
this part of the State,"— Morrell's "Fruits and Flowers, or 46 Years in Texas," page 42. 

* *This was the coveted gun demanded by Captain Castenado in 1835'~causing the first 
collision or opening flurry, of the Texas War of Independence. 



124 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



deuce of permanency, settlers continued to arrive, a few of 
the (more venturesome, locating some distance "out, westward 
— greatly exposed to numerou s hostile bands of Indians con- 
stantly visiting that section. As these incursions were gen- 
erally from the west, these intrepid pioneers bore the same 
relations as the advance-guard of an army, receiving the 
first blow or warning; and, on swift horses, alarming the 
people farther east of the threatened raid, or approaching 
danger. 

"In the autumn Of 1833," says John Henry Brown, 
"John Castleman, a bold and sagacious backwoodsman, from 
the borders of Missouri, .with bis wife and four children, and 
his wife's mother, settled fifteen miles west of Gonzales, on 
Bandy Creek, on the San Antonio road. He was a bold 
hunter, much in the forest, and had four ferocious dogs, 
which served as sentinels at night, and on one occasion 
had a terrible fight with a number of Indians who were in 
the yard endeavoring to steal horses tied around the house* 
The dogs evidently inflicted severe punishment on\ the sav- 
ages, who left abundant blood marks on the ground, and) 
were glad to escape without the horses. In doing so, in 
sheer se-f defense, the Indians killed the dogs. Castleman, in 
Lis wanderings, was ever watchful for indications of Indians^ 
and thus served as a vidette to the people of Gonzales and 
persons traveling on that exposed road. Many were the 
persons who slumbered under his roof rather than camp 
Out at that noted watering place." 

One afternoon in the spring of 1835, Geser, a French 
trader, his two partners, and ten Mexican cart drivers and 
muleteers arrived at Castleman 's*. Inquiring for a suitable 
camping place, they were pointed to a large pool of water 



*The two principal authorities on this affair are at variance on some minor details. 
Brows Bays the caravan was from Natchitoches, Louisiana, enroute to Mexico, and arrived 
in the forenoon. Sowell, on the authority of his fathor, Asa J. Sowell, and four uncles, An- 
drew, William, Lewis and John, all early and prominent pioneer settlers in and around 
Gonzales, previous to, and at the time of the tragic occurrence, affirms the party reached 
Castleman' s "just before sundown, with a large lot of costly goods brought from Mexico, 
and were going east among the American settlers to dispose of them." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



126 



not far from the house, but at the same time, Castleman in- 
formed themi he had) that morning discovered! siigns of Indiana 
nearby, and advised the traders they had nest camp by his 
house^ — "I have plenty <of wood and water, and yon ean 
have all yiou need ; you will be safe, as my house is enclosed 
by strong palisades, and in case of trouble, you can come 
inside and I will help you to defend yourselves and your 
property." Thanking the settler for his generous hospital- 
ity, and assuring him they weie well armed and could de- 
fend themselves in case of an attack, they moved to the 
water-hole, unpacked, making the usual preparations for 
the night, and retired — little thinking they were sleeping 
to their awful doom at the morrow's daiwn. 

Castleinan, too, making everything secure for the night, 
retired, but not without apprehensive forebodings of dan- 
ger. Just at daylight he was aroused by the firing of guns 
and the yelling of Indians in the direction of the pool. 
Hastily springing out of bed and clothing himself, he un- 
barred! a small port-hole like window and looked out. The 
traders had improvised breastworks of their carts, packsad- 
dles, and bales of goods, and were fighting with great des- 
peration, — the Loud and regular reports of their escopotas 
(smooth-bore cavalry guns) ringing out and commingling 
with the exultant yells of the savages, on the crisp morning 
air. The sun ariose and still the fight raged, lasting some 
four hours 1 — the Indians charging in a circle, firing and fall- 
ing back. Again andi again was this repeated, narrowing 
the circle each time; the traders as often repelling the at- 
tack with 'considerable loss to the enemy. But the besieged 
had also sustained loss and were despairing. Taking advan- 
tage of this fact, and. rendered the more desperate by their 
own losses, the infuriated Comanches now made a combined 
and determined onslaught from three sides — maneuvering 
so as to draw the fire of all the party simultaneously, and 
leaving them unloaded, when they rushed in and with ex- 
ultant yelils, f ell nponi anid soon despatched their victims. 

Witnessing this last charge fromi his window, Castle- 



126 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



man,* it is 1 said, drew a long breath, excitedly exclaiming : 
"They are gone! wife, that charge will wind them up, those 
whoops are for victory." It was so — a short hand! to hand 
struggle and all was over. 

After scalping and mutilating their victims, disposing 
of their own dead, and packing all the booty they eared 
for on their horses and the captured mules, the victorious 
Comanches leisurely moved off up the country. Castleman 
said he counted eighty warriors as they slowly passed in 
single file, each shaking his lance or shield at his house,, 
but making no further demonstrations. 

"As soon as he thought it was safe after the Indians 
left," says Sowell, "Castleman visited the battle ground. 
It was a terrible sight ; the Mexicans had piled up their 
goods, saddles and other eaimp equipage around them, and! 
the whole surrounded by their carts. Inside this little 
square or circle, they lay horribly mutilated and drenched 
in blood. Geiser had many wounds on him and had evi- 
dently fought bravely, and exposed his. person more than 
any of the others. 

"The ground was almost covered with arrows, some bro- 
ken, others transfixed in boxes, saddles and carts. The In- 
dians threw their dead in the pool of water — how many could 



* "Castleman could," says Brown, "many times, have killed an Indian with his trusty 
rifle from his cabin window, but was restrained by his wife, who regarded the destruction 
of the strangers as certain, and contended that if her husband took part, vengeance would 
be wreaked upon the family— a hundred savages against one man, He desisted, but as his. 
wife said, 'frothed at the mouth,' to be restrained from action on such an occasion. Had 
he possessed a modern Winchester, he could have repelled the whole array and saved both 
the traders and their goods." To which Sowell adds: "At the foot of the hill, 100 yards or 
more from the house, stood a large tree, upon which Castleman had tacked a piece of white 
paper to serve as a target when he felt disposed to rifle practice. This paper caught the 
eye of an Indian as he was scouting around, separated from his companions, and he came to 
the tree to see what it was. The Bettler saw him, and at once raised his rifle to take aim, as 
this was too good a chance to lose of killing an Indian. He had often hit the paper target 
at that distance. Before he could ffre, however, his prudent wife laid her hand on the gun 
and implored him to desist; that if he killed one of them, the Indians would be almost sure 
to attack the house, otherwise they might leave without molesting them. The Indian in 
question did not long remain as a mark for the pioneer, for, as soon as he discovered the: 
bullet h«les in and around the paper on the tree, he turned and looked toward the cabin, 
and taking in the situation, ran behind the tree, and using it for cover, beat a hasty re- 
treat." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



127 



not be ascertained. There w-^re many bloody spots on the 
ground outside of where the Mexicans lay. Castleman now 
returned to the house, andi taking his family, hurriedly de- 
parted for Gonzales to carry the news. The Indians went 
back towards the west, and no doubt had been on Geser's 
trail some time, knowing the nature of the rich booty which 
he carried. There were no white settlements from Castle- 
man's on to the Rio Grande, andi over this vast territory 
the Comanches then roamed at will, and often captured 
trains of Mexican carts and trade caravans". 



THE FIGHT ON THE BLANCO. 

The sequel to the above tragic affair will now be givetn 
as: condensed and reconciled, from the two principal ac- 
counts — Brown's and Sowell's both Texas pioneers, and each 
an acknowledged authority on matters pertaining to our bor- 
der history.* 

When Castleman reached iGonzales with the news, it 
spread .rapidly, and by daylight on the following morning, 
a party of about thirty* men were in the saddle and en- 
route to Castleman 's. Among these volunteers the follow- 
ing names — several of whom afterward won fame on other 
fields ; or figured prominently in the fiery history of Tex- 
as — are preserved: Matthew ("Old Paint") Caldwell, 
Dan McCoy, Jesse McCoy, James C. Darst, Ezekiel Wil- 
liams, John Davis, "Wash" Cottle, Almaroaa Dicikiinsoin, 
(miartyr' of the Alamo), Andrew J. So well, Sr., Dr. James 
C. Miller, Wm. S. Fislher, (of Meiir Expediticai fame ims 1842) , 



* As in the preceding affair, Brown and Sow ell are at variance. We give preference 
to the latter, since he obtained his information from surviving participants in the engage- 
ment, supplying details. Sowell says twenty-seven men composed this expedition, and 
places them under command of Bartlett D. McClure. Brown says: "In a few hours a band 
of 29 or 30 volunteers, under Dr. Miller, were on the trail and followed it across the Guada- 
lupe and up the San Marcos, and finally into a cedar brake in a valley surrounded by high 
hills, presumably on the Rio Blanco"; and adds, "This was on the second day after the mas- 
sacre." "It is painful to add," continues Brown, "that this Dr. Miller, later in the same 
year, became a tory, and left the country, settling in Michigan, never to return." His name 
has sometimes been confounded with that of the patriotic Dr. James B. Miller, of Fort 
Bend, long distinguished in public life under the province and Republic of Texas. 



128 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



David Hanna, Landon Webster, Jonathan Scott, John Cat- 
tleman, Tom Malone, — White, and Bartlett D. McClure — 
the latter beinig chosen captain. 

The trail of the Indians (from Castleimajn 's ranch) led 
aip the south valley of the Guadalupe, crossing that river at 
a place now called "Erskine's Ford,'' within the present lim- 
its of Gaudalupe county, and some twelve miles from Se- 
guin. After crossing Darst Creek, about twenty-six miles 
from Gonzales, and just below the ' ' French Smith Ranch, ' ' 
the Indians, it seems, amused theimiselveis by securing spools 
thread to their horses' tails and letting it unwind across 
the flats and prairies as they traveled. The dropped 
strands thus served the settlers to follow the trail at a more 
rapid gait, but the Indians 1 evidently apprehended no dan- 
ger of pursuit. They now bore to the northwest and to the 
headwaters of Mill Creek, passing out across the York 
Creek divide. Though traveling slowly on account of their 
heavy booty, the Indians moved steadily by day and night, 
while the pursuers could only keep the trail in daylight — 
4 1 two ravens," says Soweli, " followed in the wake of the In- 
dians pickling up the offal from their camps, and would 
fly up and follow on at the approach of the white men." 

After breaking camp on the third day out, and some 
two miles ahead, the whites came upon the first regular 
-camp of the enemy, on a high ridge, south of, and over- 
looking, the present town of San Marcos, in Hays county, 
and where in a circle round) a pole, the Indians had tramp- 
ed down the grass — performing their customary scalp dance, 
the night previous. 

From here, the Indians having entered the mountains, 
the trailing was more difficult and the pursuit slackened, 
the men making their »last outward camp in the brakes of 
the Rio Blanco. The signs now indicated that they were 
close upon the enemy, causing the whites to move with more 
eaution. Just as they were entering a valley the heavy 
morning fotg lifted, and suddenly the yell of an Indian 
was heard on a mountain across the river. Captain Mc- 
Clure now ordered a rapid advance, but soon entered] such 



AD LAWRENCE'S FAMOUS LEAP 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 129 



dense brakes, they were compelled to dismount (leaving 
their horses), amd proceed om foot. Scouts were now sent 
forward to reoonnoiter,* while the others slowly follow- 
ed in single file, stooping and crawling as they weint. "Fi- 
iniailly they came out into am opening near the rivier where 
three or four could walk abreast, and at this instant battigi! 
bang! camte the sharp report of two rifles and the yelling 
of Indians near at hand. 'Charge, boys!' shouted Mc Clure, 
as he sprang in front. 'Here they are!' Pell-mell, in a foot 
race that had it been timed, might have proveid famous, came 
the scouts closely pursued by a party of yelling savages, 
who were pulling arrows and adjusting them to their bow 
strings. Springing to one side as their spies flew past, 
Captain McClure raised bis rifle and fired at the foremost 
red skin to come in range; Castleman shot the next one 
who fell across the lifeless body of the first. Several other 
shots were fired, and a third Indian had his bow stick shot 
in two while in the act of discharging an arrow. Thus sur- 
prised, the other pursuers beat a hasty retreat towards the 
river, yelling loudly as a warning signal to their comrades, 
of the danger encountered. By this time most of the men 
had gotten clear of the brush a<nd charged with their cap- 
tain across the open ground/' 

"Near the river" says Sowell, "they met about fifty 



*Sowell says two scouts, Almaron Dickinson and James Darst, were sent ahead to lo- 
cate the Indians; Brown says three— Matthew Caldwell, Dan McCoy and Ezekiel Williams 
—went forward to reconnoiter, and adds a thrilling and amusing, but conflicting incident: 
"Following the newly made path of the Indians through the brake, in about three hundred 
yards, they suddenly came upon them dismounted and eating; they speedily retired, but 
were discovered and, being only three in number, the whole crowd of Iudians furiously pur- 
sued them with such yells as, resounding from bluff to bluff, caused some of the men in am- 
bush to flee from the apparent wrath to come; but of the whole number of 29 or 30, sixteen 
maintained their position and their senses. Dan McCoy, the hindmost of the three scouts in 
single file, wore a long-tailed coat. This was seized and held by an Indian, but Old Dan, 
as he was called, threw his arms backward and slipped from the garment without stopping, 

exclaiming, 'Take it, d n you!' Caldwell sprang first into the glade, wheeled, fired and 

killed the first Indian to enter. Others unable to see through the brush till exposed to view, 
rushed into the trap till nine (?) warriors lay in a heap. Realizing this fact, and such un- 
expected fatality, the pursuers raised that dismal howl, which means death and defeat, and 
fell back to their camp. The panic among some of our men prevented pursuit. It is a fact 
that among those seized with the 'buck ague,' were men then wholly inexperienced, who 
subsequently became distinguished for coolness and bravery." 



130 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Indians, and the fight became general. The yellimg of the 
Comanehes almost drowned 1 the report of the firearms, and 
echoed far up the Blanco valley. Bnt the Indians soon 
gave way, evidently fighting more in an attempt to cross 
their packs over the rdver. Another sharp flight took place 
at the river, some of the Indians halting in the water to 
shoot, hut the unerring rifles of the whites again caused 
them to flee in disorder — across the river and into the brakes 
beyond, leaving most of their spoils." 

Thus the whites were victorious, without anyi serious 
or fatal casualties and Were glad enough to abamdon the 
pursuit without crossing the river. Sow ell says, "The In- 
dians made a very poor fight and seemed rattled at the 
very coantmencement, shooting wild aaid running at every 
volley from the whites. They had evidently shot most of 
their arrows in the fiight with the Mexicans. Those killed 
had but very few in their quivers 1 — some even none." 

Regaining their horses and carrying part of the more 
valuable goods, the militant colonists returned home with- 
out further incident. The remaining spoils with many 
bows, shields, blankets and! buffalo robes were cached on the 
bank of the river, and a party afterward went back for 
them, but they had been badly damaged by sun and rain. 



MURDER OF CANOMA. 

Catching the thread of narrative, dropped for the sake 
of chronological order in 1833, tftie reader will now leairai the 
sad story of Chief Canoma'si fate. 

The Wacos:, Tehuaeanias, lonies, Anadarkos, Tow ash, 
and other kindred tribes of the Caddoan confederation, in- 
habiting the Upper Brazos and "Rrinity Rivers, and known 
as the "Wild tribes," were now openly hostile — especially 
toward' the settlers of the Colorado, reg&rding them as 1 a 
separate "tribe" from the people of the Brazos.* 



*"In the first settlement of Austin's colony," says Kenney, "some unscrupulous 
white men stole horses from the Caddos and brought them into the settlement at the 'Falls' 
•f the Brazos. But the settlers there, not relishing such freebooter proceedings, took the 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. ( 131 



During the spring of this year, tihe faitMul and intelli- 
gent old chief, with his band of some thirty f riemdly Caddos, 
was still alb out the settlements, and: village of TenoxtdtQan. 
Assured of his faithfulness to tihe whites ^a-nd appreciating 
his influence with the wild tribes, the Americans about tihe 
"Falls" employed Canoma to go amcmg the hostdles and in- 
vite them to come in for a friendly talk and treaty; and 
particularly to recover two white captives then held — child- 
ren of a Mr. Ross. 

Camoma, leaving two of his children as hostages, left On 



horses from the thieves and returned them to the Indians with explanations, which made a 
very favorable impression on the savages. The settlers on the Colorado were already in- 
volved in a war with the wild tribes, and the return of the stolen horses persuaded the In- 
dians that they were different tribes, one disposed to be friendly, and the other hostile." A 
Comprehensive History of Texas, Vol. 1, page 746. 

Isaac Duke Parker, an early emigrant to the eastern part of Texas, writing of affairs 
previous to and about this period, says: "At that time all the Indians east of the Brazos 
river were peaceable (?). and were located as follows: The Cooshatties and Alabamas lived 
on the Trinity, in what is now Polk county; the Beedis on Beedi creek, south of the 'La- 
borde' road, in what is now Madison county; the Wacos lived where the city of Waco now 
is; the Tehuacanas at the site of the present Tehuacana High School, Limestone county; 
the Ionies on Ioni creek, where the line between Houston and Anderson counties now runs; 
the Kickapoos on the Neches and north of the San Antonio road. They were all peaceable 
with the people east of the Brazos river, but most of them regarded the people west of the 
Brazos as a different race of people, and would commit depredations, killing and robbing 
west of that river, while maintaining friendly attitude towards the peaple east of the Bra- 
zos."— Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Texas, MSS. page 1. 

Writing of the Texas tribes. Captain George B. Erath says: "There in one thing that 
we particularly noted about their superstitions, they always believed the people of Texas to 
be of entirely different origin from the people of the United States; and they had the same 
ideas about a difference of tribes in Texas before Texas was separated f som Mexico. Even 
after they made their treaties in 1845 they believed that the white people of the Brazos 
were altogether different 'tribes' from those on the Colorado and west of that stream. They 
claimed to be at pe xce on the Brazos, while depredating on the Colorado. And this was the 
idea of all the w Id Indians in Texas, excepting, perhaps, the Tonks, who, from their total 
difference, and from the hatred against them by the other Indians, were compelled to oc- 
cupy ground within the borders of white settlements. A small band or sub-division of Cad- 
dos also maintained friendly intercourse with the settlers about the Brazos and did not par- 
ticipate in this wild idea, but, knowing that the people oh the Colorado made no distinction 
between Indians, they kept aloof and refrained from going westward of the waters of the 
Brazos, confining their hunting and camps within that scope. Friendly and fearless, they 
were regarded as protectors to the settlers of the Brazos. 

"This produced, about the years 1834-5, an antipathy between the people on the Colo- 
rado and Guadalupe, and the people of the Brazos, some going so far as to charge the set- 
tlers on the Brazos side with conniving at the outrages committed out west, and buying the 
stolen horses. The wild Indians in doing mischief, would if possible, pass out through the 
camp of these more civilized bands, and, when followed, it would thus implicate those who 
were disposed or actually friendly and innocent— finally producing the general indiscrimi- 
nate war." "My Knowledge of the Aborigines of Texas", MSS. Page 5-6. ^ 



132 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



this peace eanibassy, and in due time returned, reporting that 
the tribes visited would treat with the Brazos people, but 
that a majority were irreconcilable and very bitter against 
the geltftlecns on the Colorado — even then a party of the 
hostiles were leaving cn a foray in the direction of that 
settlement. 

A messenger rode rapidly from the "Falls" to give 
warning of this diamjger, but unfortunately, arrived too late 
the wily foe having slipped in, murdered a settler, stole a 
number of horses and left — eluding the quick pursuit of a 
small party of citizens under Edward Burleson. 

Meantime some travelers, halting at tlhe " Falls, "lost some 
horses — strayed away — and employed Canoma to recover 
them, furnishing him with written authority for that purpose. 
The aged chief with his wife and son, following the track 
of the straying animal® westward, found the-m near the 
Three Forks of Little River. "If he had returned! at once 
to the settlements" says Kenney, "it would have saved the 
life of himself and sen, and spared the historian a painful 
duty ; but, /being in no hurry, he stopped to hunt, and while 
in camp was fciund Iby the pafrty from Ba strep, who were 
pursuing the marauders. ' ' ! . , , : '' ;■ 

Canoma prodiuced his credentials, which must have been 
convincing, since it was plainly impossible fcir him to have 
forged them. But, finding they were deliberating about 
taking his life, he begged them to go with him to the "Falls," 
thirty miles away, where the owners of the horses were, 
to verify his statement — a request which could not with any 
reason be refusied; but it was left to a vote, and a fatal ma- 
jority condemned the plainly innocent man to death.* Ca- 
noma and son were tiled to trees and shot — the sqfliaw 'being 
spatted to find her way in alone to her people. Though not 



♦ Brown, somewhat apologetically, says Burleson and party were not aware of the 
old chief's faithfulness, but tnat Burleson was disposed to honor his credentials. His men, 
however, "already incensed, and finding Canoma in possession of the horses under such sus- 
picious circumstances, grav9 rein to unreasoning-exasperation— ever lamented by the chiv- 
alrous and kind hearted Burleson." But the tainted page cannot be expunged from our 
history. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



133 



censurirg the Brazos people, the report o# this cold-blooded 
act greatly incensed the remainder of the teaud, who now 
left the settlement under their second, or war-chief, Choc- 
taw Tcm, for the Indian country — themselves declaring war 
ajgaisnt the Coloradoans. 

Thus the smoldering sparks were being farmed, and as 
thie settlers continued 1 to push out further, and bolder, disre- 
garding the fancied rights and privileges of the different 
tribes, the flames of savage warfare were being kindled 
along the entire frontier. 



ROUTING UHE KEECHIS 

In May of this yeatr, in consequence of some depreda- 
tions ; and smspecting the small tribe of Keechis, a company 
of about thirty Gummimgs settlement men aimed, mounted, 
and left Washington-on-the-Brazois, against these Indians. 
Arriving at their village on Boggy Creek, a tributary of 
the Trinity in what is now Leon county, tney were met by 
the head men of thie ttribe, who prof essed surprise, stoutly de- 
claring their innocence and friendship; and in proof ex- 
hibited a treaty wijth them signed by the empresario Ster- 
ling C* Robertson. 

"We were about to depart without molesting them," 
says Joel W. Robinson, who was in the expedition, "wheni 
some of our men, in looking about the village, saw and re- 
cognized several horses which had been stolen from the set- 
tlements on the Colorado. Finding they weire detected, the 
Keechis seized their arms. We fired on them, killing two of 
their number, when they took refuge in a thicket contiguous 
to the viiHage, which was afterwards burned. : None of our 
men were injured. Papers were found in the village 
which were known to have been on the person of a young, 
man named Edwards who was killed by the Indians twenty; 
miles below Bastrop, a few months previously. 

"We immediately collected about thirty head of horses 
and started honiewardl As we expected the Indians would 



134 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



pursue us 'and make an effort to recover their Worses, a 
strong guard w:as plaoed around our camp the ensuing 
night. At a late hour .one oftfh-e sentinels fired off his gun and 
ran into camp crying 'Indians!' The night was unusually 
dark, and the men, suddenly aroused fncm sleep, mistotok 
one another for the enemy. Some cltobbed their rifles and 
knocked dfcwn their messmates. Several shots were alsp 
fined, and one man (Benjamin Castleman) was killed and 
another wounded, beforte the mistake was discovered. I 
think it probable that the sentinel really saw Indians, b»ut 
thley did not 'molest us. We retutrned home without further 
mishap. Both Major Oldham and Gapt. John York claimed 
the command of this company, and were constantly quarrel- 
ing about it, but neither of tihem was ever fully recognized 
qs such by the men." 



COLEMAN'S FIGHT— MOORE 'S EXPEDITION. 

Following this summary chastisement of the Keechis, 
Captain Robert M. Coleman, of Bastrop, with a company of 
twenty -five, three lof whom were B,razos mm and well 
known to many of the Indians, erossied the Brazos at Wash- 
ington, on the fcnrth of July, eniroute 'to the Tenuaieana vil- 
lage, at thie famious springs of that name, now in Limestone 
county. 

The purpose of this expedition, it is said, was to hold 
council aind form a treaty with the tribe, but spies gave 
warning of an armed force approaching, and taking it for 
granted that their intentions were hostile, the Indians took 
strong position in their rifle pits, dug in the ground, firing 
(upon the whites as they came within range. A desperate 
fight now ensued iai which a number iof Indians fell, but they 
were obstinate and held their ground, repelling all efforts 
to dislodge them 1 from their strongholds; and in the end 
compelling Coleman a<nd his small force to retreat, with the 
loss of one man killed and four woiunded. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



135 



Haltin-g at Fort Parker, two and) a half miles from the 
present town of Groesbeck, Coleman sent messengers to the 
settlements for re-inf oreemeints, and was soon joined by three 
volunteer companies!, under Captains Robert M. William- 
son, (the gifted, dauntless, eloquent and eccentric three- 
leg'ged Willie) George W. Bennett and Caheen. i 

The whole was under the -chief command of Col. John 
H. Moore, with Joseph C. Neill (a soldier of the Horse- 
ishoe) as adjutant; the combined forces immedtiately march- 
ing to the village, but the Indians had timely warning and 
fled. 

Thus f oiled in their plans to retaliate and punish the 
wily Tehuaeanas, the forces now scoured the country to the 
forks of the Trinity, near the subsequent site of Dallas, 
passing over to and down the Brazos; crossing that iriver 
where old Fort Graham later stood, and returned home 
after a trip of several weeks. But few Indian s were en- 
countered on tfhe trip* — one warrior who was killed, and a 
few women and children who weire captured, carried into 
settlements, and sold for slaves — the only instance in all 
the Indian wars of Texas.* 

Although failing to engage the enemy and to strike 
them a decisive blow, these expeditions and military demon- 
strations weire not without their results — says Yo-akum: 
i 'This seasonable display of force on the frontier was of 
great service, as it over-awed the Indians, and also tended 
to discipline the volunteers, and prepare them for the toils 
and triumphs that awaited theim at (home. As expressed 
in the somewhat pompous language of one of Austin's 
'original 300/ 'this campaign on (the frontier was of 
great service, as it gave the Indians an idea of what the 
Texans could and wonld do if they continued to bother 
them/ " 



*"The same experiment," says Kenney, "had been tried in all the States, but it had 
always proved a failure, as it did in this instance. The Indians would not work even in 
slavery, and, unfortunately, not in any other condition." 



136 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



HEROIC DEFENSE OF THE TAYLOR FAMILY. 

Besides serving as a connecting lick in the long and 
bloody chain of out frontier history, the following incident 
is of further consideration as illustrating the wonderful (hero- 
ism of the pioneer women of Texas. 

As early as 1833-4 the brave and hardy pioneers of Rob- 
ertson's Colony, or "Milam Land District," as it was af- 
terwards known, had pushed as far west as tihe present 
county seat of Bell county. Among the first — truly ad- 
vance-guards, and for some time thereafter the outermost 
inhabitants in that direction — were the Taylor family, w r hx> 
settled near the Three Forks of Little River, in wihat is now 
known as " Taylor's Valley," some three males southeast of 
the present city of Belton, and almost the same distance 
above the "Falls." 

The home was a double log cabin with covered but un- 
floored, passage between — a door to each cabin openin/g to 
thie passage; the shutters of riven slats, failing to reiaclhi to 
the top and leaven g an opening of several inches. 

The family consisted of Joseph Taylor and wife; two 
grown daughters, and two sons, Stephen, the oldest, 13 or 
14 years of age — all the children) by a former, deceased hus- 
band, Mr. Frazier. 

In the nigM of November 12th., 1835,* on the light of 
the moon, and after the family had retired — the parents and 
girls in one room ; the two boys in the other — a party of 
eleven Kickapoo Indians attacked the house. The first 
intimation of danger was the fierce barking -of a faith- 
ful watch-dog which, however, was soon silenced with an 
arrow. Approaching nearer, the Indians in broken English 
accosted Mr. Taylor, demanding to know how many men 
were in the house: "We halve a plenty of men, well armed 



♦News, however important the event, did not travel so fast in that pioneer time, as 
now. There were no telephones; no telegraph, to flash the occurrence of this affair to the 
only newspaper then published in all Texas, that its readers might scan the headlines or 
read the details of this thrilling incident. Just twenty days elapsed before the matter 
found its way into print. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



137 



audi rea>d<y to fight," answered Taylor. "You lie, one 
man,!" shouted the red skim as he peered through a 
small crack. Whereupon Taylor thrust him with a board 
eausdng his hasty retreat. 

Meantime Mrs. Taylor threw open the door and called 
the boys to her room, which they reached unharmedi amdd a 
shower of balls and arrows. At this moment and) 
just as Mrs. Taylor succeeded in barring and securing the 
door with a heavy table, a powerful warrior violently shook 
the shutter, demanding admittance, saying, "Me poor In- 
dian. Want tobacco — no fight.". To which Mrs. Taylor 
boldly replied: "No admittance, and no presents for red 
devils." The attack now commenced dm earnest, the brave 
Mrs. Taylor commanding the forces within. Placing a ta- 
ble against the door, she armed and' mounted' the young- 
est boy, only twelve years old, with instructions to shoot 
the first Indian that came in range, while the two girls 
were set to moulding bullets, that the supply might not give 
out. For once t(he boy on the table found the opening over 
the door shutter, a convenience. Procuring an axe from the 
wood-pile, one of the fiendis started for the dootr am<d had 
reached the covered passage-way, when the brave little boy 
fired and the Indian dropped dead. Seeing the fate of his 
comrade, another demon rushed up and attempted to drag 
the dead one away, when with the same accuracy as the boy, 
Taylor fired, felling the second Indian, mortally wounded,, 
across the first one. The redskins were now more cautious,, 
resorting to strategy rather than hazard the dangers of 
direct attack. The farthest end of the vacated room was 
fired, and as the flames 'made rapid headway, the exultant 
fiends danced and indulged in most demoniacal yells, which 
fell heafvily on the ears of the besieged and now seemimigly 
doomed inmates. And now it was that Mr. Taylor, consid- 
ering their fate sealed, became very much dispirited, and 
suggested! to his wife that they rush out and surrender. 
"They will doubtless kill me, but make you and the cmiljdrem 
prisoners. In that event you must drop bits of clothing <m. 



138 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the way so that friend's can follow and' recapture you." 
But the heroic wife and mathefc with great earmestrss and 
resolute determination responded: "No! I had rather perislh 
in the flames; had rather die a thousand deaths, and see 
my daughters kilLed, rather than they .should suffer the 
shamie and agonizitnig tortures of captivity in the hands of 
such -merciless and savage fiend's! No! you must take cour- 
age and fight. "We must defend ourselves to the last, and 
if the wooist come, die bravely togiether ■!" This brave 
learted matron infused her dauntless spirit into all. 

Meanwhile the flames were making rapid headway in 
t?he roof, and the fate off the family now indeed seemed 
sealed, the fire would soon consume them, or force them 
to leave the house to meet a worse fate at the hands of the 
relentless foe, unless it was checked. But the heroic Mrs. 
Taylor in her desperate determination to save her loved 
i'lies, was equal to the emergency, declaring they would yet 
win the contest and all foe saved. Fortunately there was a 
small barrel of home-made vinegar m the racm, and the 
usual supply of milk. "With th^se she declared she could prut 
out the fire, and, suiting heir action to the resolution, and 
with a degree of courage evinced by few,* she mounted a 
table and ascended the log wall to the roof. Removing the 
" weight poles'' and quickly clearing away the hoards or 
riven shingles, making an opening in advance of the fire, 
and then baring her head and chest to the donstant fire of 
1hie enemy, she coolly and judiciously distributed the fluids 
as they were passed up to her, quenching and arresting the 
further spread of the flaimes. And surely old Mars slmiled 
an this Spartan-lik/e matron as she regained the fliocir uin- 



* Afterwards, in relating this feat to Capt. Shapley Ross, Mrs. Taylor said she 
thought not of personal danger from the arrows of the Indians, abusing them all the wh!le. 
In the covered passage-way already described, there was suspended by bear grass thongs, 
3 quantity of "jerked" buffalo and bear meat. As the heat and flames reached this part of 
iheroof, the fat "bacon" was ignited and began to fry— the intensely hot grease streaming 
down on the wounded Indian, virtually cooking him alive, and causing him to utter the most 
hideous and agonizing yell?, greatly to the delight of Mrs. Taylor, who looked down upon 
fcb© squirming wretch and exclaimed: "Howl, you yellow brute! You are not fit to feed to 
Kogs! But we'll roast you for the wolves!!" 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



139 



harmed, but with several bullet holes in and through her cloth- 
ing. While these scenes were transpiring, Mr. Taylor and 
the eldlest scm were met idle. A frorse was tied near the 
house in the yard; an Indiian attempted to secure the ani- 
mal; Mr. Taylor fired aind the thief fled, wounded. About 
the same time the 'boy, Stephen Frazier, secured aim and 
wounded another. The contest was now varying somewhat 
in favor of the besieged. But the enemy were loath to give 
up the contest. The vigilant eye ard ear of Mrs. Taylor 
(now discovered cine of the Indians in the enter chimney 
corner, endeavoring to start a fire and at the same time 
peering through a considerable hole burnt in the dirt and 
wlocd "jam," for a shot. Securing a large wooden shovel- 
ful of live coals and eirnlbers, she threw them full into his 
face and bosom, causing the red devil to spring away with 
an agonizing 1 ' waugh ! ugh ! ' ' — to which Mrs. Taylor 
somewhat facetiously ejaculated: "Take that yen yellow 
varmint, it will help ytu to kindle your fire!" This "hero- 
ic," ocular treatment, it was afterwards learned, partially 
destroyed the Indian's sig^ht. 

Thus discomfit! ed and foaled, the Indians withdrew, 
and after a short consultation, gave up the attack and left. 

An hour or so later, the heroic family decided to leave 
their dismantled home — first secreting their bedding and 
some other valuables in the Leon bottom, one of the boys 
serving as sentinel from the house top while this was being 
done — and make their way to their nearest neighbor, Capt. 
Gouldsby Childress, who had built a cjabin on Little River, 
abent seven miles below, and rear the present town of Rog- 
ers, where they arrived soon after daylight. 

In the forecicicn of the same day, George W. Chapman, 
in command of a smfall cotnpany of rangers stationed at the 
"Falls" of the Brazos, arrived a fc the Taylor cabin and were 
greatly surprised to find At dismantled and deserted, and 
naturally supposed the family had been carried into capti- 
vity, or murdered. The rangers out off the heads of the two 
dead and charred Indiams, stuck them on long poles, and 



140 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



raised them as a gruesome warning to other hostdles that 
mighit pass that way. 

^Reverting thus far into the misty past — this tlhrilliuig 
episode occurred full tlhree quarters of a century ago — to- 
day a beautiful and 1 substantial dirty, in point of numbers 
equal almost to Ithe then combined white population of Tex- 
as, burst upon the vision of the write* — enlivened by tjhe 
sJhrilH whistle of locomotives and tlhe humming 1 sptindles of 
busy factories! — as he stands upon tlhe spot, once 1 covered by 
the Taylor home. A marble shaft should be reared! to com- 
memorate the heroism of this noble family of plioneers — tibe 
prominent figure of which should be a woman — the heroic 
Mrs. Taylor, rifle m ihand, in fighting attitude. 

All the participant® in this affair have passed 
away* — Mr. Taylor soon thereafter; (the noble Mrs. Taylor, 
"in 1861 or '52," says Capt. Shapley Ross, "re-occupied the 
old homesltead, the scene of her desperate experience, in Tay- 
lor's Valley, imi Bell county, and is said to have died 
tibere." Mrs. .Ghapmanj, the eldest daughter, survived till a 
few years ago. 

A few years before his death, the gallant ranger cMef, 
Col. "Rip" Ford, m response to the author's request for 
data om this affair, wrote: 

"During 1888 the writer was at Pleasajntotn, Atascosa 
county, where he met Mm Chapman, the wiciow of Capt. 
Geo. W. Chapman, as brave an Inddan fighter as evetr siet 
foot on Texas sodl — winaiiiig his first spurs as lieutenant in 
Capt. Shapley Ross' ranger compiamy ; and who died in 1879. 
Mrs. Chapman was the eldest daughter of Mrs. Taylor 
and participated in the thrilling episode referred to. At 
that time Chapman made his home with the Taylor 's, but was 
absent when the flight occurred. i , 

"Mrs. Chapman explained the cause of the difficulty. 
A party of Tcmkawa Indians were camped near Taylor 's 
house. A party of Kickapoos were known to be ioi the vi- 
cinity. The Tonkawas informed Mr. Taylor they wetre going 
to steal the horses of the Kickapoos. Mr. Taylor insisted 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 141 

thfcv should mot, because their proximity to his home might 
implicate hdan. They agreed to move away, but :i'f-iled to do 
so, till they (bad stolen the horses and maneuvered bo as 
to cause the Kickapoos to blame Taylor. Preparatdtons were 
•made for defense in case of trouble — Taylor had enly two 
guns ; Chapman bad (gone to Nashville to procure more. He 
reached the Taylor heme about daylight, and finding it part- 
ly consume d and 1 vacated, and naturally supposing the in- 
mates had been murdered, perhaps burned or carried off 
captives, he hastened back to Nashville and told the sad 
news. A company of rangers and citizens was quickly en- 
route to the scene — they met the Tlaylor family on the way. 
Thte fugitives were din a sad plight ; their clothing almost 
torn to pieces from contact with the bushes and briars; in 
reality they were almost naked from the waist down. — .Said 
Mrs. Chapman: 'All of us were in a state of undress. My 
two brothers were almost without clothing. We were much 
fatigued, and' hungry; everything to eat had been burned. 
When we reached the house of Mr. Childress, we were Well 
treated. After we had been t)here sixteen days our dioig 
came to us, but he never recovered from 1 his wound. ' As 
the Kickapoos surrounded* the house, Mr. Tayknr talked 
witlh them and' asked them to desist till he could explain; 
that he would go wdtth them to the Tonkawa camp next day 
and prove his innocence; but they refused, saying he was a 
party to the theft. The beleaguered! family 'understood the 
situation. There was no chance to escape. It was fight, and 
the cihlances were to die. 'Mrs. Taylor (advocated fight- 
ing to the bitter end. True heroine, sbe deserves 
a monument, not of marble (alone, but a place in tlhe 
heart of every one who admires undaunted courage — mor- 
al and physical — and which menacing dangers cannot shake 
nor time abate. ' ' 

"P. S. 'Captain Chapman, my late husband/ saya 
Mrs. Chapman, 'came to us at the home of Mr. Childress. 
He had been to our house. The bodies of the two Indiana 
were being eaten by the hogs. Both the rooms of the house 
were burned. He supposed the hoga were teastiuig on- the 



142 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



•dead bodies -of the Taylor famfily and knew no better till 
he (peached! the house of Mr. Childress.' " 

Briefly refering to "The Taylor Fight" an a note tio 
the Belton (Texas:) Journal in 1886, the Hon. Geo. "W. Tyler, 
himself the worthy son of a noble Texas pioneer 1 — 
Judge Orville T. Tyler — ®aid: "Mrs. Chapman vis- 
ited her frienldis in Bell county sosme nine or teoi 
years ago, when I called upon her and obtained a very 
full account of the whole affair, wh&eh I reduced to writing 
at the time in the form of notes, but they were destroyed 
when my office burned in 1879. She was a mere child 
when the fight occurred, but her recollections of the 
minutest details were vivid, accurate and 1 interesting. Mrs. 
Chapman lives in Atascosa county. Her husband, Geo. W. 
Chapman, now deceased, was a brother of Mr. W. S. Chap- 
man of Temple. He lived formerly &n Bell county, and was, 
as I understand it, a justice of the peace at the first 'Or- 
ganization of the county, for one of the county precincts. 
There .is a story among the old settlers to the effect that 
when he held his last term of court, a difficulty arose 
among the bystanders, and the constable attempted to re- 
store order, whereupon the crowd ran the constable away, 
and there was therefore, no officer present to make pro- 
clamation of the adjournment of 'Hisi Honor's' court, ajnd 
that said court has remained open ever since. " 

To the late Capt. W. T. Davidson — one of the very 
early residents of old Nashville — we are indebted for 
many valuable notes on the Taylor fight and other early 
incidents in that section. He says: "I write entirely from 
memory, and after the lajpse ol many years, but in the 
main think I am accurate. The Taylor family and my 
mother with her family of five children (the Comianehes 
having murdered my father in 1836), lived after the in- 
cident at the town of Nashville on the Brazos, antd some 
twenty five miles below the s</<ne of Taylor's fight; and 
I have heard Mrs. Taylor relate the affair to my mother 
on many occasions. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



143 



"There were many stirring events taking place all the 
time ; one in wthichi Joe Taylor, of Taylor 's Valley fight fame, 
participated. He was carryimg the mail between Nashville 
and Independence, and was returning after night when with- 
in about two males of town he discovered 1 five or six In- 
dians just above the road) sitting on their horses. Taylor 
hailed them, and at the same time put spurs to his horse 
with the Indians right at his heels. On and on they came 
like a whirlwind into town. One big, stalwart fellow came 
right alongside and tried to grapple his bridle reins. Tay- 
lor, who was carrying a rifle, but being so closely pursued, 
was unable to use it up to this time, struck the Indian over 
the head and landed him on the ground. The people of the 
town soon collected around Taylor and wanted to know 
what he was making all that noise about — hollering i run 
here boys, run here boys'!' He then related his experience 
and showed a wound hie had received at fthe ihands of the 
red devils. " 

The "Three Forks of Little River," constituted by the 
juncture of the Leon, the Lampasas and the Salado, an! 
designated by the Mexicans as well as the early American 
settlers, as the "San Andtres, " was a notable locality m 
the colonial iaind p(ionieer period of Texas, many stirring epi- 
sodes occurring m and around the 1 vicinity. Speaking of 
the Lampasas, (Water Lily) and 1 the Salado, (SalUkh) it 
may be of interest to know the names of these two streams 
were, in some way, perhaps by blundering geographers^ 
transposed' — the original nomenclature being characteristic, 
of the two waiters, while the unfortunate change is notice- 
ably incongruous. In like manner were the "Brazos" and 
"Colorado" misnomer ed. 

In September of this year surveying parties were fit- 
ted out by Thomas A. Graves, for locating lands in the 
then rapidly settling Robertson's Colony. "While working on 
th*e San Gabriel they were surprised' by a band of dep- 
redating Indians — two of the party killed, and the othe*r§ 
barely escaping by flight. 



144 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



TRIALS OF EARLY EMIGRANTS. 

In November following, the same month m which oc- 
curred the Taylor attack, and in the same locality, W. C. 
Sparks, his negro nran, Jack, and' Michael Reed, 
with an ox wagon loaded with conn, left the now unknown, 
but then important point called "Tenoxtitlan," to seek a 
camping place and ultimate home on the 4 4 Rio Saan Andres" 
(now Little River) about ten or twelve miles southeast of 
the present city of Belton. The sequel is best given by 
John Henry Brown, an acknowledged authority otu matters 
of Texas border history:- "Sparks, Reed and Jack ar- 
rived and pitched camp at a point on Little River on what 
has since been known as the Sparks League. They on the 
same day, constructed a pen in which to place their dorn. 
As the night 'approached, Mr.Reed crossed the river and 
passed his first night on Little River in the camp of a 
aewly arrived emigrant named John 'Welsh. Outside of the 
Taylor family that entire country was then a vast, but 
beautiful and lovely solitude. In most other outside locali- 
ties, as at Bastrop, Gcnzaleis, Tenoxtitlan and elsewhere, 
families congregated for the time being in a special settle- 
ment and had their temporary fields around them, whereby 
all the available force could be rallied in a moment for 
defense. But these men on Little River had no such nucle- 
us. They took life with all it* hazards and moved in the 
very heart of an Indian country. 

"On this first night the Indians attacked the lonely camp 
io* Sparks and Jack. Many shots were fired and were heard 
by Michael Reed and John Welsh on the opposite side of 
the river. Sparks and Jack, in the dark, sought refuge in 
a thicket. The Indians seemed afraid to attack the camp 
and retired. In the morning Sparks and Jack struck out 
for Tenoxtitlan, on the Brazos. Michael Reed and John 
[Welsh on visiting the camp and finding no erne, took up 
their effects and returned' to the Brazos. On their way and 
35 ear where Brushy Creek enters the San Gabriel, Sparks 
and Jack met two men, brothers, named Riley, with two wag- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



145 



cms, their effects, wives and children, destined for the 
Little River settlement. They apprised them of the previ- 
ous night's happening and advised them to return, but 
theyi would not, 'and moved on. Inside of a mile the In- 
dians appeared, professed friendship and claimed only to 
be following Sparks -and Jack. Thereupon the (brothers 
Riley countermarched. But as they were entering' the bot- 
tom at Brushy Creek the Indians appeared on each' side of 
the wagons. As they entered the creek one savage jumped 
on the lead horse, cut loose his frames, and was about 
to whirl round for offensive measures, when one of the 
Riley brothers shot hiim dead. Then began >a vigorous fight. 
A young man of the party, with the women and children, 
fled to the brush and kept on fleeing until, in about two 
days, they reached the settlements on the Brazos. Very 
aoon one of the Rileys was mortally wounded, but before 
dying killed two — so that the deceased brother and five 
Indians lay dead in the bed of the creek, within a few 
feet of each other. The attacking party, in view of such 
mortality, fled, and left the field to the surviving Riley. 
Nothing daunted, he took from one of the wagons a mat- 
tress, -en which he laid his dead brother — covering him in 
sheets and quilts, to keep the wolves from mutilating hia 
body — then mounted -one of the horses an'd next day ar- 
rived at the settlement of Yellow Prairie, now in Burleson 
cotunty. He returned with a party and buried his 1 broth- 
er. Soon afterward, the Rileys left Texas- and returned 
to Mississippi." 

Both Reed and Sparks have relatives yet living in that 
vicinity ; all hctnoralble and worthy — William, a son -of Mi- 
chael Reed, having served as first sheriff of Bell county. 
Sam Sparks, a most estimable and worthy descendant of 
"W. C. Sparks, is now holding the office of State Treas- 
urer.* 

Numerous other tragedies and incidents of border 



♦ Resigned in 1912. 



146 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



warfare occurred during- this year — the exact dates, and in 
most instances reliable details, of which are lacking. 



MURDER OF THE RANCHB&OS 

In the course of some excavations being made in the 
courthouse yard at Corpus Christi -in 1902, eighteen human 
skeletons were unearthed. The gruesome discovery ex- 
cited much curiosity and! speculation till the mystery was 
cleared 1 away by Mr. Frandalig, one of tfoe oldest inhabit- 
ants of the coast country, and residing ia the vicinity as- 
far back as 1836. ' 1 In 1835," he said, ' 'there resided a 
short distance west of the site of Corpus Christi, a ranchman 
Alejandro Garcia, who had iu his employ about twenty 
peons. The Lipan Indians, about one hundred strong, made 
a raid on the ranch, and recognizing his inabilty to hold 
out against so formidable a band of Indians, Garcia and his 
peons fled for their lives in this direction. They were pur- 
sued and overtaken near the present site of Corpus Chris- 
ti, and though they made desperate resistance, were final- 
ly overcome and most, if not all, massacred. After 
the Indians had retreated, Mexican soldiers from) San An- 
tonio and rancher/os from intervening points, came and bur- 
ied the unfortunate victims at or near where they fell, 
and, to the best of my recollection, that point is about 
where the present court house stands. " This is the ac- 
count in brief — the key that unlocks the past and reveals 
(the fate of participants in one of the many bloody, but un- 
written scenes by which this "fairest spot of God's crea- 
tion,"* now peopled with ta generation who know the red 



»DeCordova says: "Depredation after depredation continued, innumerable parties 
of frontiersmen were fitted out, who, whenever an opportunity offered, did good service; 
yet the Indians were seldom to be seen, although the settlers, to their sorrow, often felt 
their presence. No sooner was a murder committed, or horses stolen, than, ev# n before the 
alarm could be given, the savages had traveled far upon the way to their homes; and, with 
the characteristic cunning and skill which they ever displayed 00 their predatory incur- 
sions, it was difficult for the white men to follow their trail. Besides, their power ef en- 
durance of fatigue and want of food were far beyond those of their pursuers. It is well 
known that these hardy eons of the forest have repeatedly, traveled more than one hun- 
dred miles over hill and dale, swimming creeks and rivere, v^thoot food or rest." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



147 



man onily as some legendary being, was wrenched from as. 
cruel and relentless a race, when roused to resentment, as 
ever inhabited any portion of the globe from the day it was 
first flung untamed, uncultivated, from the creative hand of 
God. 



FATE OF PETER MERCER. 

The Mercers, (Peter and Jesse) were the first settlers 
cn the San Gabriel. They built a rude cabin on the bank 
of the river, and cleared a small farm in the bottJom near 
what is now San Gabriel post-office. Jesse Mercer's wife 
was dead and he and his children lived with Petejr Mercer, 
who was married, but had no children. One day when 
Jesse* was absent, a party of Indians approached the house, 
but manifesting friendship, surrounded the settler in his 
yard, when they seized his gun andi discharged its contents 
into his body. In the agonies of death he ran some distance 
and sprang from a bluff, lodging in the underbrush below, 
a corpse. While the Indians wiere engaged in a futile 
searcih for bis body, Mrs. Mercer with the children and a 
negro boy, fled down the bottom, and reached the slightly 
flushed river, which was crossed with some difficulty — tying 
a grapevine around the waist of the negro boy, and holding 
the other end w T hile he carried the children across, one at a 
time. After other adventures and much suffering from 
jrangett*, the fugitives made tLeir way down to the settle- 
ment on the San Gabriel, in what as now Milam countty. 

OTHER ENCOUNTERS. 

Enroute from Fort Marlin to the Falls of the Brazos, 
and when about midway their journey, David Ridgeway, 

♦ In his Beries of "Frontier Sketches," published in the Fort Worth Gazette, 1884-5, 
pioneer Frank M. Collier wrote interestingly of this same Jesse Mercer— then married, 
though somewhat unhappily, a second time— as one of the first settlers on Mercer Creek 
six miles south of the present town of Comanche, in 1851, and adds: "Mercer was an old 
Texan, having emigrated from Georgia in 1835, and had assisted in surveying most of the 
Leon Valley from Gateeville up, and was the owner of several tracts of land on South Leon 
and Mercer creeks. 



148 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



recently 1 from Tennessee, and another man whose name 
is not given, were ambushed by a party of Caddos. Ridge- 
way fell mortally wounded at the first volley of arrows, 
but bis companion fortunately escaped by the fleetness' of 
his horse. Citizens pursued, but failed to overtake these 
marauders. " Quite a number of people about this time" 
says Wilbarger, "were killed around Fort Marlin and the 
settlement robbed of an immense amount of property — the 
Indians doing all they could to break it up." "For isome 
reason," continues Wilbarger, "the Indians fought harder to 
retain the Brazos* country than any portion of the State. 
The soil of no State in the Union has been crimsoned with 
the blood of so many brave defenders as that of Texas — not 
even excepting Kentucky, the 'dark and bloody ground."' 

In the summier of this year, James Alexander one of the 
early and valuable citizens! of Bastrop, and his son, a youth 
t»? sixteen, were murdered by Indians at the head of Pin 
Oak Creek, on the Wilbarger "trace," near its intersec- 
tion with the old La Bahia (Goliad) road. They were freight- 
ing goods in ox wagons from Columbia to Bastrop, and 
halted' to "noon," when tine Indians, under cover of a ra- 
vine, crept up and fired ait suoh close range as to powder- 
burn the clothing of the two unsuspecting men. After 
scalping and (horribly mutilating the bodies of their vic- 
tims, killing the oxen, and plundering and destroying the 
wagons and contents, the fiends left, going in the direc- 
tion of the "Falls." 

The bodies of the unfortunate men weire discovered by 
parties traveling the road a few hours later, when the 
alarm spread, a pajrttr was soon organized, and in pursuit, 
following the trail of the savages to Little River where it 
was lost. However, the party continued to scour thte coun- 
try, and when some fifty* miles above the "Falls" of the 
Brazes, they found a Caddo Indian who was captured and 
forced to guide them to bis camp some five miles away, 
where they found four other warriors, and two squaws. The 
whites killed the five warriors, but spared the women — an 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



149 



act that at least palliates to the favor of the whites, since 
thei Indians make no distinction in such instaJices ; sparing 
neither men, women nor children. 

No statement n&is been preserved alleging that goods or 
any other evidences were discovered in the camp of these 
Indians implicating them in the murder of the Alexan- 
ders. 

Briefly, in closing this period, we mention a few of the 
many incidents and tragedies occurring an 1835: A Mr. Al- 
bright was killed by Indians on his f arm near Fort Houston ; 
James Boazman (or Boozeman), was killed at Boozeman *s 
Ferry on the Trinity 1 — he had driven his wagon into the river 
to soak and swell the wheels, when Indians killed him and 
carried away his horses ; about the same time and perhaps 
the same Indians, (a foot party of ten or twelve) killed 
Mr. Bradley Davis. Davis and a Mr. Leathers were out 
bee tree hunting — Leathers escaped after a hard race; Tom 
Green was waylaid and killed by Indians on Keecni Creek 
in what is now Leon county ; two families named Rity were 
moving west, on the old San Antonio road, and were near 
the Navasota River, when they were attacked by Indians. 
They corralled their wagons and perpared for defense — - 
one of the men was killed at the first fire, ..but the other, 
aided by the women, made it hot for the red skins, causing 
tbem to finally withdraw. These emigrants retraced their 
steps back east; the Indians stole some horses on San Pedro 
Bayou and were pursued by a small party of men. In the 
charge James MeLane and Isaac Sheridan were killed and 
the remainder of the party forced to retreat; at another 
time horses were stolen and a party of settlers went in pur- 
suit, overtaking, and kilting some of the Indians on the 
Trinity. In the fight ¥m. Foster was killed. 

At this period scouts were kept in the woods most of the 
time watching for trails and sigtos of Indians and to give 
alarms. 



CHAPTER IX. 



HOUGH ushered th amid dark and ominous 
war-clouds, followed by a series of the 
bloodiest and most appalling disasters that 
ever stained the history of any land, the 
year of 1836 — most memorable in the an- 
nals of Texas — soon evolved from its slough 
of despair. 

The campaign of 1835 was settled by 
such brilliant and complete success for 
Texan arms, as to render wholly unexpect- 
ed the disasters that befell them in 1836 up to the very 
moment that, with the suddenness of a transformation 
wrought by Prospero's wand, the clouds of defeat were dis- 
pelled, April 21, by the signal victory of San Jacinto, and 
the star of Texas, no longer obscured by lurid vapors, blazed 
forth steadily and serenely from <a clear sky, as a new orb 
in the galaxy of nations. 



BIRTH OF THE LONE STAR REPUBLIC. 

The siege and fall of the Alamo; the destruction of 
Grant and his command beyond the Neuces ; the defeat and 
annihilation of Johnson's force at San Patricio; the killing 
o£ King and his followers, and the capture of Ward and 
his men at Refugio ; the surrender of Fannin and his' troops, 
and their subsequent massacre, together with that of Ward 
and his men and other prisoners of war, held at Goliad ; the 
retreat of Gen. Houston from Gonzales to flhe Colorado, and 




BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



151 



thence to the Brazos, exposing to the devastating and san- 
guinary fury of Mexican soldiery, all the settlements in Tex- 
as, save those on Red River and about Nacogdoches and San 
Augustine ; and the sweeping forward of a powerful Mexi- 
can army across Texas in three divisions, from the western 
frontier toward the Sabine, like a drag net, constituted a 
series of calamities of the most appalling nature. Apparent- 
ly they portended that the tragedy enacted on the plain of 
Guadalupe, in Zacatecas, was to have a dreadful sequel in 
Texas, that would leave the despotism of Santa Anna firmly 
enthroned from the western confines of the United States to 
the Pacific Ocean, and southward to the Caribbean Sea. It 
seemed probable that the only visible reminders that would 
remain of the effort made by Anglo-American civilization 
and liberty, to plant themselves in the beautiful and pleas- 
ant land, and change it from a wilderness into a well or- 
dered and populous commonwealth, would be the graves of 
patriot heroes, who had tried and failed. 

When Gen. Houston fell back from the Colorado, the 
greater number of the volunteers with him, left the army 
to hurry to their homes and remove their families eastward, 
before the Mexicans reached them. 

Panic-fear among the defenseless women and children, 
spread like fire in flax, resulting in what is known to his- 
tory as the ' 'Runaway Scrape.". Nothing could allay it. 
Thousands of women and children, with and without escort, 
thronged all the routes of travel, hurrying afoot, horse- 
back, and in vehicles in the direction of Louisiana. Women 
gave birth to children by the roadside with no one to care 
for them. Many of the sick and feeble died by the way. 
Back of those who constituted the anguished, scattered, 
scurrying throngs, were their homes, and all the proper- 
ty they had accumulated by years of toil and hardship. 
The Mexican troops reduced many of these habitations to 
ashes, and they wantonly destroyed thousands of cattle and 
horses. 

In addition to all this, the Indians took advantage of 



152 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the confusion and weakened power of resistance, to wage 
fiendish warfare, attended by murder and robbery. 

Parties of refugees were several miles east of the battle 
ground when they heard the booming of cannon at San Ja- 
cinto. They halted to await news of the issue of the con- 
test. Couriers dashed along the roads next day and gave 
inteUigence of the splendid and decisive triumph. A few 
more days, and it was known that Santa Anna had been 
captured at San Jacinto, and that, under a treaty entered 
into with him, all the Mexican troops in Texas, except 
those captured at San Jacinto, were on the march back to 
Mexico, followed by a Texan force that buried the remains 
of the victims of the Goliad massacre, aind saw that the 
terms of the agreement were observed. 

An election was held in September, at which the consti- 
tution framed by the Plenary Convention in March, was 
adopted, and a president and vice president, members of con- 
gress and other officers, were chosen. Congress met in 
October, and General 8am Houston, as president, and Mira- 
beau B. Lamar, as vice president, were inaugurated; and the 
Republic of Texas was launched upon its glorious career — 
extending to the time that Texas became a state of the 
American Union in February, 1846. • . , 

The charred bones of the martyrs of the Alamo were 
collected by Seguin from the ashes of the pyres upon which 
their bodies had been consumed, and were interred at the 
Cathedral of San Fernando in San Antonio. The people 
bent themselves to the accomplishment of the new destinies 
that opened before them, and the constructive work of 
building a noble commonwealth, consecrated to liberty, 
order, peace, prosperity, enlightenment and progress, 
was begun in earnest, and has been continued to this day — 
with results that prove that the blood that was shed, the 
sacrifices that were made, and the sufferings that were en- 
dured, were not in vain. 

The Texas people of 1836 mourned that Travis, Bowie, 
Bonham, Crockett, Fannin and a host of others were gone, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. I ; , 153 



and were not with them to enjoy the fruits of victory; 
this sorrow, too, was made more poignant by the untimely 
loss of the great Stephen F. Austin, also the noble pa- 
triot, Lorenzo de Zavalla. But their sorrows were tempered 
with the proud joy that tihey had won renown and deathless 
fame, establishing for Texas, memories! anid traditions that 
conserve patriotism and civic virtue to remotest times. "A 
land without memories and traditions of patriots is 1 a land 
without liberty." 

The Texan war for independence in some respects is 
without a parallel, and the final victory at San Jacinto will 
ever rank as one of the astonishing feats of military history. 
The great leader in that campaign and victor at San Ja- 
cinto, Sam Houston, (he needs no title), was yet long 
spared to. the people. And) he it was that so well and faith- 
fully guided and guarded the destinies of the dearly bought 
new land of liberty — the- Lone Star Republic. 

The matter of the Cherokee claims came before the 
Plenary Convention, but was not finally acted upon, owing 
to the haste, confusion and alarm that prevailed. 

The Cherokees considered their rights secure, in view 
of the action taken by the Consultation in 1835, and of the 
treaty entered into with them in January, 1836. They, 
therefore, remained quiet. But Sam Houston was the factor 
that kept these Indians pacified and in check. Other and 
hostile Indians glutted, as far as they could, their lust for 
revenge, blood and plunder, and the Texas people had to 
fight them with one hand while they fought combined Mexi- 
co with the other. 

Morfitt's report to Secretary Forsyth in 1836, gave the 
following estimate of the number of Indians in Texas at 
that time: Wacos, 400; Tehuacanas, 200; 'Tonkawas, 800, 
Cooshatties, 350; Alabamas, 250; Comanehes, 2,000; Caddos, 
500 ; Lipans, 900 ; smaller band*, 800 ; Cherokees and their as- 
sociate bands, 8,000, a total of 14,200. 



154 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



FAILURE OF BE ALE'S COLONY. 

Noting the futile efforts of tftue few English colonists unr 
der Dr. John Charles Beale, to exist on the extreme bor- 
ders of Texas, or rather, at that time, within the limits' of 
;the state of Tamaulipas, between the Nueces and Rio 
Grande, we find its sequel in a most sad and bloody 
tragedy. 

In 1832 Dr. Beale, a native of En g? and, but then resi- 
dent in the city of Mexico — having married the widow of 
Richard Exeter, an English merchant, and whose maiden 
name was Dona Maria Dolores Soto — in partnership with one 
or two other gentlemen, secured a contract or permit from 
the State of Ooahuila and Texas for colonizing a tract of 
.three million acres between the rivers Rio Grande and 
Nueces. 

Omitting many interesting details incident to it* estab- 
lishment and brief (existence, we sihall briefly trace the his^- 
tory of this colony as gleaned principally from Kennedy's 
4 ' Texas ' ' — closing with the sad sequel. 

The first and so far as we can find, only English colony— 
fifty-nine men, women and children — sailed from New York on 
NoveirJber 10th., 1833, in the schooner Amos Wright, Capt, 
Monroe, for Aransas Bay, and where after a tempestuous voy- 
age they arrived and disembarked on the 12th. of December, 
going into camp, and remaining throiu^gth most in- 
'dement weather, till the end of the month. On the 3rd. of 
January, 1834, Dr. Beale having procured teams and means 
of transportation from Goliad, the party left overland for 
the interior. The weather continued very wet and cold, 
and much suffering was experienced by the "new comers" 
on the route. Crossing the San Antonio River and leaving 
Goliad with fresh oxen on the 20th., they arrived at the 
' ' Rancho " of Don Erasmo Seguin at noon on the 31st. of 
-January. Borrowing of the Don five yokes of oxen, they 
jpcunded on. 

"February 4th., made an early start reaching a small 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



155 



brook called the Salado, twelve miles distant, where we 
formed our camp with great precaution, as this place is 
famous for the murders committed by the Tahuacamas, 
being one of their usual resting places." 

About noon on the following day the travel-worn emi- 
grants drove into San Antonio. " Bexar is one of the poor- 
est, most miserable places in this country. The Indians 
steal all their horses, rob their ranchjeros and nearly every 
week, murder some one or two of the inhabitants. From 
want of union and energy, they tamely submit to this out- 
rage, which all admit is inflicted by a few Tahuacanas." 

Resting here till the 18th. of February, the now more 
cheerful colonists left Bexar with fifteen carts and wagons 
for their final destination near the Rio Grande. Ten days 
travel from San Antonio brought them to the Nueces River 
— which they crossed "with the English and Mexican flags 
flying and the people cheering most enthusiastically" — and 
for the first time entered the lands designated as Beale's 
Colony; and in commemoration of which event one of the 
party, Mr. Little, carved upon a large tree on the west bank : 
"Los Primeros Colonos de la Villa de Dolores pasaronel 28 
de Febrero, 1834," the English rendition being: "The first 
colonists of the village of Dolores passed here on the 28th. 
of February, 1834," — many of them, alas, never to pass again. 

After exploring the country in various directions and 
arranging other preliminaries, the little band of colonists fi- 
nally halted, March 16, on the Los Moras Creek, below the 
present town of Del Rio and some ten or twelve miles 
from the northeast bank of the Rio Grande ; and where they 
chose the site for the proposed village of Dolores — a name 
bestowed 'by Dr. Beale in honor of his absent wife. Munic- 
ipal officers were now elected, the corner stone of a church 
laid with much ceremony, tents, huts, aoid cabins erected, 
streets and plazas platted, and the foundation for a perma- 
nent town laid — including the building of a brush wall 
around it for protection against the wild Indians, who then, 
as for generations before and for fifty years afterwards, 



156 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



were a terror to the Mexican population of that frontier. 
"But the settlement at Dolores did 1 not prosper,' ' 
says Kennedy, owing to a variety of causes; of which 
the principal, apparently, wats the absence of proper quali- 
fications of the colonists themselves. A drouth prevailed and, 
without irrigation, the colonists failed to raise crops ; the fre- 
quent murders of rancheros by Indians caused the colonists 
much apprehension and uneasiness, lest they should be 
attacked by the savages. As time passed conditions 
grew worse, and much dissatisfaction arose, causing 
parties of the settlers to leave for Manclova, and 
other Mexican towns, Santa Pisa, San Fernando and other 
places, and still others for the coast to seek vessels and re- 
turn passage to their native land — till finally on the 17th. 
of June, 1836, the settlement was entirely abandoned, the 
last to leave being Mr. Palmer and seven others who wenjfc 
to San Fernando where we lose sight of them. And thus 
perished the bright hopes and persevering efforts of those 
ardent, but unfortunate men and women, to sustain them- 
selves and acquire a home and heritage in the wilds of the 
the new world. In the language of historian Kennedy, 
himself an Englishman, and chronicling the trials and fail- 
ures of his own countrymen: ' 'And though Dolores ob- 
tained a place on the map, it had no pretentions to the 
name o f a successful settlement — further supplying evi- 
dence of the superiority of the Anglo-American in forming 
colonies. The North Americans are the only people who, 
in defiance of all obstacles, have struck the roots of civili- 
zation deep into the soil of Texas. Even as I trace these 
lines, I reflect upon their progress with renewed wonder 
and admiration. They are, indeed, the organized conquer- 
ers of the wild, uniting in themselves the three fold attri- 
butes of husbandmen, lawgivers, and soldiers. ' ' 



THE SAD SEQUEL. 

And now, passing over the truly pathetic, revolting an4 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



157 



heart-rending parts, we must briefly narrate the sad, sad- 
dest of all, sequels! — the murder of the last twelve colonists; 
capture of Mns. Horn, Mrs. Harris and their children; a story 
replete with cruel torture and sufferings that must elicit 
deepest sympathy, -anld cause even the maudlin sentimentalist 
to burn wiith ratge and indignation. 

Among other discouraged settlers were a party of eleven 
men, including John Horn, wife, amd two little sons, John 
and Joseph ; a Mr. Harris, his wife and three months old 
girl baby, probably the only child born at Dolores — in all 
sixteen souls — who left the fated settlement on the 10th., of 
March, 1836, hoping to reach the coast by way of San Patri- 
cio on the lower Neuces, and obtain passage by wate r to 
other and more favored lands. They reached the Neuces, and 
camped for several days in a secluded spot near what they 
supposed was the road leading to San Antonio. They pur- 
posely kept from view, as they had learned of Santa Anna's 
invasion of 'Texas. They heard teams, and men on horse- 
back passing, and supposed them to belong to the Mexican 
army. The party resumed their journey April 2. Two daya 
later while camped near a small lake, they were surround- 
ed and attacked by fifty or sixty Comanches, who killed; 
all of the men outright, except Mr. Harris and a young Ger- 
man whom they left for dead, made prisoners of the wo- 
men and children, and secreted such effects of the colonists 
as they desired to appropriate, and destroyed the remainder. 
They later returned to the scene and got the property they 
had cached. At the same time they found Mr. Harris and 
the German alive and dragged them to camp and murdered 
and scalped them in the presence of the agonized prison- 
ers. A savage also amused himself by tossing Mrs. Harris's 
infant in the air and letting it fall upon the ground until it 
was dead. The Indians were part o? a force of four hun- 
dred Comanches who were operating in the rear of the Mex- 
ican army, plundering and murdering without regard to na- 
tionality. After killing several Mexicans and Americans, 
the entire body of Indians moved northward, out of Texas, 



158 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



after tifoe battle of San Jacinto, and to th/edr base of opera- 
tions on the hiead waters of the Arkansas. 

To follow these two unfortunate daughters in thedr mul- 
tiplied sorrows and tribulations; to tell of the hellisih tor- 
tures endured and fiendish treatment experienced — all the 
while weeping and agonizing over the fate of (their innocent 
little children — beggars belief, and would cause .bitter and 
burning tears to well up thick and fast. Better, a thousand 
times better, that they had shared the fatte of their husbands 
and fathersi on that fatal April day, and that their bodies 
had been left to devouring vultures and coyotes, and their 
bonefe to bleach on the lonely prairies of Southwest Texas. 

Reader ! We will draw .the veil of isiLence. 

# # # * # # # # 

On the outgoing trip, while camped near Red River, Col. 
Holland Coffee, founder of Coffee's Trading House, near 
where Denison now stands, on Red River, visited the In- 
dian camp, and made every effort possible to rescue by pur- 
chase the two poor women — offering their captors any 
amount of goods or money; but without avail. The tender- 
hearted and noble man, it is said, wept bitterly over his dis- 
appointment, Col. Coffee was a brave and good man, and 
a valuable pioneer of Northeast Texas, and it is 1 sad to* re- 
flect that he died at the hands of an assassin a few years 
later. 

Finally, in June, 1837, Mrs. Harris was ransomed by 
American traders, acting under instructions from William 
Bonaho, a philanthropic Santa Fe merchant. At the same 
time they tried to buy Mrs. Horn, but without success. A 
little later, however, Sept. 19, 1837, she was purchased at 
San Miguel, N. M., by a Mexican acting for Donaho. But 
in a few days a grasping and heartless merchant of ttftie place, 
disgracing the fair name of Hill, set up a claim that he 
had furnished goods for her release and that he should have 
her as a servant. He obtained a judgment in his favor 
from the alcalde, and kept her in brutal slavery for a short 
while — allowing her barely sufficient food to sustain life. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



159 



Hearing of her pitiable condition, a Mr. Smith, who Hved 
at the mines, some distance away, sent an armed party, 
who brought her to his house, where his family tenderly 
cared for her. She was now soon conveyed from Taos, N. 
M., to Independence, Mo., by Messrs. Workman and Row- 
land, in 1838, and in October of that year became for some 
time, a guest of Mr. David Workman and family at New 
Franklin. 

In the autumn of 1837, Mr. Donaho escorted Mrs. Plum- 
mer (one of the captives taken at Parker 'si Fort in 1836), 
and Mrs. Harris to Missouri. He left Mrs. Harris with his 
mother-in-law, Mrs. Lucy Dodson, in Pulaski county, Mo., 
took Mrs. Plummer to her relatives in Texas; and then in 
1838, returned to Santa Fe. Mrs. Horn was ransomed dur- 
ing his absence, which accounted for his not being present 
(to take charge of her when she was released by the Indians. 
He went to Taos to see her, but learned ithat she had re- 
cently departed for Missouri with Workman and Rowland, 
and several other persons bound for Independence. During 
the year Mr. Donaho wound up his business at Santa Fe 
and went to Missouri, where he resided until 1839, when he 
located at Clarksville, Texas, which was thereafter his home 
until the time of his death. Some of his descendants are 
still residing there and in Red River county. When he 
came back to Missouri, Mrs. Horn went to see him, learned 
wiho it was that had restored her to freedom, and thanked 
ihim with words such as only a poor captive could utter — 
simple words bust sweeter to have than all the incense that 
has ever floated upward from golden censers. Neither 
she nor Mrs. Harris lived long after their restoration to 
civilization. 

Mrs. Horn published a small pamphlet giving an account 
of her life up to the time she was recovered from the In- 
dians. But one copy of this rare pamphlet is know©, -to be 
in existence. 

Some of the experiences that she details are such as to 



160 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



•dry whatever tears one might be disposed to shed over the 
fate of the Indian. 

A single incident will suffice to indicate the rest. 

On one occasion, while crossing a ford, her little son 
Joseph, slipped from 1 tihe back of the mule into the 
w T ater. An Indian, enraged at the accident, struck him with 
a lance, inflicting a severe wound, and knocking himi into 
the water, none of the other Indians interfering. The child 
swam to the bank, 4 4 bleeding like a slaughtered animal." 
Mrs. Horn upbraided the Indian for his conduct. He made 
the boy travel on foot and drive a mule for the rest of fthe 
day, and at night called Mrs. Horn to him and gave her an 
unmerciful beating with the whip. 

She says: "When the savage monster was done whip- 
ping me, he took his knife and literally sawed the hair 
from my head. It was quite long, and when he had com- 
pleted the operation, he tied it to his own as an ornament. 

* * * At this time we had tasted no food for two days, 
and in hearing of the moans of my starving children, bound 
as on/ every night, mothers' may judge, if they can, of my 
repose. The next day a wild horse was killed 1 amd we were 
allowed (to partake of the flesh. 

"During the same day tihe Indians amused themselves by 
throwing the two boys into a stream, time and ajgiain as 
fast as they swam out, until the children were partiallf 
unconscious and unable to stand. Their bodies were bad- 
ly bruised and water came from their stomachs in gurgles. 
Little Joseph's wounded face was swollen almost beyond 
recognition." 

What became of the children was never known. They 
disappeared in the devouring darkness, like characters of 
Victor Hugo in Les Miserables, and baffled fancy seeks to 
follow them in vain. 

MURDER OF DOUGLAS AND DAUGHERTY FAMILIES. 

Among other belated settlers who were hastily impro- 
vising means of conveyance with which to join in the wild 




1 BEN MCCULLOCH 2. HENRY MCCULLOCH 

3. COL. JOHN C. HAYS. "JACK" A. JACK" HAYS ASA REGULAR IN 1840 



ISAAC PARKER. 

3. CYNTHIA ANN PARKER 



2. I. D. PARKER 
4, QUANAH PARKER 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



161 



flight — "the runaway scrape" — across Texas in advance of 
the Mexican army of invasion, in March, 1836, were two 

Irish families, John Douglas, wife and children, and 

Daugherty, a widower with three children — the parents, na- 
tives of Ireland, but more recently of Cambria county, 
Pennsylvania, where their children were born, and from 
whence they had removed to Texas, in 1832, settling to- 
gether in a somewhat isolated section, on Douglas or Clark 
Creek, some twelve miles from the present site of Halletts- 
ville, in Lavaca county. 

Ere they had completed sleds on which to transport 
their household effects, most of the families in that section 
had already left for the east. Ready to start on the morn- 
ing of March 4th, Augustine and Thaddeuis Douglas, aged 
respectively fifteen and thirteen, were sent out in the range 
for the oxen designed to draw the sleds. Returning in 
the afternoon, and when near home, they were horrified to 
behold the cabins in flames and surrounded by a band of 
painted warriors, whose yells, mingled with agonizing death 
screams, told only too plainly of the massacre that was in 
progress. Unarmed and helpless, the two boys could only 
seek their own safety, which they did by hiding in a dense 
Ithicket, where they remained till night. Under cover of 
darkness, they cautiously approached the spot — once a home 
of life and happiness, now a scene of death and multiplied 
grief. A brief examination revealed to them the awful, 
shocking tragedy — the home and effects in smouldering 
ruins; their father, -m-otlher, sister and little brother; Mr. 
Daugherty, his son and two daughters, all dead, scalped, mu- 
tilated and lying naked in the yard — eight souls thus brutal- 
ly snatched from earth. "Imagination," says John Henry 
Browm, "especially when assured that those tw'o boys were 
noted for gentle and affectionate natures, as personally 
known to the writer for a numlber of years, may depict 
the forlorn angusiih piercung their young hearts. It was a 
scene over which angers weep." 

The two boys, having some idea as to course, now set 
out with bleeding hearts for tie little settlement in the vi- 



162 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



clnity of what is now Hallettsville, but finding all had re- 
treated, continued down the Lavaca some thirty-five miles 
further, to where their older sister, the wife of Capt. John 
McHenry, and a few others lived, but found that they too, 
3?ad left. Thus nonplussed, fatigued' and almost famished, 
the heart-broken youths plodded their way along the old 
Atascosa road, and when near the crossing on the Colo- 
rado River, they were picked up by some Mexican scouts 
*;nd carried in to General Adrian Woll's camp, where they 
related their sad story. The boys were treated kindly and 
were soon placed in the care of one Auguste, a French- 
man, and a traitor to Texas, and who had, with a band of 
confederates, mostly negroes, "rounded up" the cattle of re- 
treating citizens, and rendezvousing on Cummings Creek, was 
supplying Woll'si airmy with beef at exorbtont prices. 
Here they remained, virtually as captives, till after the battle 
of San Jacinto, and the retreat of the Mexican, army. 

Again quoting Brown's narrative : "Auguste, mount- 
ing Augustine Douglas on a fine horse, sent him 
down to learn when Woll could start. In the mean- 
time a party of Texans, headed by Allison York, who 
had heard of Auguste 's thieving den, hurried forward to 
chastise him before he could leave the country with his 
booty. He punished them severely, all who could, fleeing 
imto the bottom, and thence to Woll's camp. When York's 
party opened fire, little Thaddeus Douiglas, not understand- 
ing the cause, fled down the road, and in abouit a mile met 
his brother returning from Woll's camp on Auguste 's fine 
horse. With equal prudence and financial skill, they deter- 
mined to save both themselves and the horse. Thaddeus 
mounting behind, they started ajt double quick for the Braz- 
os. They had not traveled many miles, however, when 
they met the gallant Capt. Henry W. Karnes, at the head 
of some cavalry, from whom they learned for the first time, 
of the victory of San Jacinto, and that they yet would see 
their only surviving sister and brother-in-law, Mrs. and 
Capt. McHenry. In writing of this incident in Be Bow's 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 163 



Review of December, 1853, eighteen years after its occur- 
rence, I used this language : 

' These boys, thus rendered objects of sympathy, formed 
a link in the legends of the old Texans, and still reside on 
the Lavaca, much respected for their courage and moral de- 
portment.' 

"This was said thirty-four years ago. It is a still 
greater pleasure to say now that they ever after bore hon- 
orable characters and were both living a short time since, 
as I think their sister is ; bmt the noble old patriot in three 
revolutions— Mexico in 1820, South America in 1822, and 
Texas in 1835 — preceded) by gallant conduct at New Orleans 
in 1815, when only sixteen years old — the honest, brave and 
ever true son of Erin's Isle, Capt. John McHenry, died a 
f ew years ago, leaving a memory sweetly embalmed in many 
thousand hearts." 



PIONEER TIMES IN ROBERTSON'S COLONY — TRIALS 
OF THE FIRST SETTLERS ABOUT THE "THREE 
FORKS" OF LITTLE RIVER. 

During the latter half of 1835, and throughout 1836, the 
Indians — Tehuacanas, Wacos and Comanches — if not combin- 
ing, vied with each other, as it were, in the frequency of 
their depredations and deviltry, being exceedingly hostile to 
wards the settlers of Robertson's Colony, especially to 
those more exposed about the Falls of the Brazos, Nash- 
ville, about the Three Forks of Little River, and on the 
San Gabriel. 

"In the month of February, 1836," says De Cordo- 
va, "a company of rangers were stationed as high up the 
country as the Waco village, * * * but, from the scarcity 
of provisions and the difficulty of conveying the small quan- 
tity of the necessaries of life, (and few indeed were they 
that these efficient frontier soldiers required), they were 
forced to fall back to the "Falls"; and, notwithstanding all 
these exertions, during the months of April, May and June, 
innumerable were the acts of cruelty, and immense were t3ie 



164 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



depredations, committed by the savages. And, in conse- 
quence of the poverty of the government, these rangers 
were disbanded, and for a time the magnificent region of 
country between the Colorado and the Brazos was deserted 
by the white man. But, as the settlers had for a time 
deserted this region of country, and as there was no fur- 
ther inducement for the savages to steal, tfriey, too, retired 
to their villages on the Brazos, as they deemed themselves 
•more secure higher up the country, where they could enjoy 
and revel in the fruits of their predatory excursions, unmo- 
lested." 

For two or three years after the introduction of its first 
sestt'lers io the early 30 \ Robertson's Colony received 
but few accessions. However, the beauty and fertility of 
that section soon attracted the attenion of home-seekers, 
and from about 1834- '5 they commenced to arrive and to 
locate on the more desirable, but also more exposed, sec- 
tions, especially in and around Nashville, the capitail of; the 
colony, near itfhe mouth of Little River and alontg that 
stream ias high up as the <<r flhree Forks.' ' Among other fam- 
ilies were the McLennans, Davidsons, Crouch, the Childers 
brothers, Rileys and Taylors; special mention of which has 
already been or will be made. 

Following the return from the army and the " runaway 
scrape," after the victory at San Jacinto, April 21, most 
of these settlers repaired to their abandoned homes and 
claims. 

"During the previous winter," says Brown, "each head 
of a family and one or two single men had cleared about 
forty acres of ground on his own land, and had planted 
corn before the retreat. To euiltivaite tlhia corn and thus 
nave bread, was the incentive to an early return." 

Temporarily, the families of most of those who returned 
to culitdvate their crops, remained, for safety, in tihe 
town of Nashville, then the highest up settlement and refuge 
on that frontier. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



165 



KILLING OF CROUCH AND DAVIDSON. 

Thus matters stood till about the first week in June, 
when two messengers, John Beal and Jack Hopson, arrived 
at the "Three Forks" from Nashville, bringing the sad news 
of Parker's: Fort massacre, on the 19th of the previous 
month; advising these toiling men of their great peril and 
urging them to leave at once, as numerous parties of hos- 
tile Indians were traversing the country and were in that 
vicinity. Heeding this advice, immediate preparations were 
made to retreat in a body to Nashville. 

The entire party consisted of Capt. Gouldsby Childress, 
wife, four sons, Robert, Frank and two small boys, two 
grown, and one eight year old daughter; Rhoads (an old 
gentleman living with the family), Ezekiel Robertson, Or- 
ville T. Tyler, Rev. Jasper Crouch, Dr. Robert Davidson, 

Shackelford, the two messengers, Beal and Hopson — 

in all seventeen souls, of whom but ten were really able 
to bear arms. Their only vehicle was a wagon to be drawn 
by a single pair of oxen — they had some horses but not 
enough to mount the entire party. 

Starting on the third day of June, their first day's jour- 
ney brought them to the cabins of Henry "Walker, James 
(Camel Back) Smith and Monroe, on Walkers Creek, about 
eight miles east of the present town of Cameron, in Milam 
county; and where they camped for the night. The three 
last named families not being ready, the original party left 
on their journey early the following morning, hoping to 
reach Nashville by the close, or in the night, of that day. 
But they were doomed to disappointment — some alas! never 
to reach their destination and loved ones. 

On that fatal June morning, and when about three 
miles from Walker's, enroute via the Smith crossing of 
Little River — ' ' Davidson and Crouch about three hundred, 
Captain Childress about one hundred, yards ahead, and two 
or three men perhaps two hundred yards behind, driving 
some cattle" — a party of perhaps two hundred mounted 
and painted Comanche warriors dashed upon them. Chil- 



166 , BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



dress, calling to Davidson and Crouch, regained his wagon, 
and hasty preparations were made for defense. Keeping 
well out of rifle range, the Indians commenced encircling 
the apparently doomed party, at tihe same moment discov- 
ering Davidson and Crouch, who had failed to join their 
comrades, a large party attacked them. Being poorly mount- 
ed, the two unfortunate men made a bold stand and a 
brave fight, killing one or two of the enemy, but were soon 
overpowered and both slain, scalped and mutilated. "Then 
followed," says Brown, ' ' great excitement among the In- 
dians, apparently quarreling 'over the disposiion of the 
scalps and effects of the two murdered men. This enabled 
the main party to reach a grove of timber about four hun- 
dred yards distant, where they turned the oxen loose and 
only sought to save their lives." 

At this 1 critical moment, and just as the savages were re- 
turning en masse to renew the attack, the two young men, 
Beal and Hopson, seized with panic, succeeded in making 
their escape. 

Again the Indians circled around, yelling, firing and 
maneuvering to "draw a fire from the little band," but they 
presented a bold front and reserved their charges. Shack- 
elford, who could speak the Comanche tongue, challenged 
them to charge at closer quarters, but believing the brave 
little party well armed and determined, the wily Coman- 
ches kept aloof and eventually gave up the attack, mov- 
inig off to the west. In dose order the beseiged now re- 
treated, changing their course to "the raft," four or five 
miles distant on Little River, on which they crossed, swim- 
ming their horses, secured a favorable camp for the night, 
land arrived at Nashville early next day.* 



♦ "During tha next day," says John Henry Brown, "Smith, Monroe and Walker, with 
their families, arrived. Immediately on leaving the other party, the Indians had attacked 
the three families in Walker's house and kept up a fire all day without wounding either of 
the defenders, who fired deliberately through port-holes whenever opportunity offered. 
While not assured of killing a single Indian, they were perfectly certain of having wound- 
ed a considerable number. As night came on the Indians retired, and as soon aa satisfied 
of their departure, the three families left for Nashville, and arrived without further mo- 
lestation." —""Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas," p, 44. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



167 



Robertson's Colony played, a most prominent part in 
the settlement and development of Texas — its outer set- 
tlements truly constituting the advance guards of civiliza- 
tion, but the growth of the colony during its first years 
was slow and of uncertain permanency. In 1833, there 
were only five persons settled within its limits above 
the Yegua, west of the Brazos. In 1834, the town 
of Viesca at the Palls of the Brazos, was laid off by Ster- 
ling C. Robertson, its name being afterwards changed to 
Fort Milam. Nearby was Fort Sullivan, afterwards called, 
"Bucksnort." Early in 1835 considerable additions were 
made to the colony — small settlements commencing on Pond 
Creek and on Little River. Tenoxtitlan, first as a noted 
crossing of the old San Antonio and Nacogdoches road, 
then as an important Mexican military garrison, and in the 
'30 's, as a colonial hamlet, was some twenty miles below 
Nashville on the Brazos. The place is now defunct and al- 
most forgotten. 

Nashville, as the capital of the colony, and about central 
with reference to the colony limits, was situated on a most 
lovely and eligible site, a beautiful prairie plains on the 
south bank, overlooking the Brazos, about two miles below 
the mouth of Little River, and five miles northwest from 
the present town of Hearne, in Milam county — The Interna- 
tional and Great Northern railroad bridge spanning the river 
a few hundred yards below the site of this now dead town. 
A number of bold springs gushed forth from the bluff, "the 
landscape o'er" was most picturesque, and it is no 
wonder that settlers were attracted, and would want to 
locate in and around this beautiful, once colonial capital. 
Its exact incipiency is not known, but certain it is that the 
empresario Robertson viewed the site in the middle '20 's, he 
and his partner, Alex' S. Thompson, were there in 1831 — the 
latter locating with his family, and doubtless erected the 
first cabin. But very few resiclents were there in the early 
30%. A few settlers came as early as 1834, and early in 
1835, and more in* the summer iand fall of this latter year. 

The town was regularly laid out in the fall of 1835 by 



168 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



Gen. Thos, J. Chambers, who had previously located an 
eleven league grant, covering (the site. This grant was 
long in litigation, during the days of the Republic, but it 
is not remembered how the suit was finally settled. 
At no period of its existence, according to the memory of 
Frank Brown, was the place very populous — perhaps not 
over 15 or 20 permanent resident families — ' 1 There were 
many comers and goers from time to time." 

Here the records were kept and the business of the colo- 
ny , transacted, and later, as the capital of Milam Land Dis- 
trict, from 1837 to 1846, it became quite an important place 
— till Cameron finally rivaled, and became the permanent 
county seat of Milam county. It continued as a post-of- 
fice, at least till about the beginning of the Civil War. 



OAPT. HILL'S FORTUNATE SCRAP. 

Late in August Captain Hill, scouting with a small com- 
pany of rangers on the San Gabriel, discovered the trail 
of foot Indians, near the mouth of Brushy Creek, leading to- 
ward the lower country. After a rapid pursuit without halt 
or rest, of about twenty -four hours, the enemy — twenty Cad- 
des— were overtaken and a desperate fight ensued. — the 
odds for a time in favor of the Indians, who had taken favor- 
able position in a dense thicket. In the end, however, sever- 
al of the red men were killed and wounded and the others 
routed in confusion, leaving their camp equipage — among 
other trophies a large number of scalps taken from white 
people of both sexes and all ages. By this timely action the 
sparse and unprotected settlers at a point in the post oaks 
between the Yegua and Little Rivers and in what is now 
Burleson county, was no doubt saved from a serious visita- 
tion. 



MURDER AND CAPTURE OF THE McLENNANS. 

Prominent among the early frontier settlers of Texas, 
were the McLennans, and one of the most tragic episodes 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



169 



to be recorded, is the fate which befell one of these fami- 
lies. 

Neil McLennan, Sr.,* was a Dative of the Highlands of Scot- 
land, born in the year 1777, and emigrated with a large 
family and relatives to America in 1802, settling in the state 
of North Carolina, where they remained till about 1820, 
" When, impelled by a brave,and adventurous spirit, in com- 
pany with one companion, he determined to explore the 
wilderness of Florida. Without a path or 'guide, they pene- 
trated and explored the dense forests of west Florida, trav- 
eling on foot, burdened with their guns, axes, provisions and 
blankets." To this, then terra incog., the McLennans soon 
removed, halting there until the year 1834, 1 ' when, having 
heard of the great and peculiar advantages of Texas, he, to- 
gether with his brothers, a few friends and their families, 
removed to that country." "They purchased a schooner at 
Pensacola," continues a biographer, "loaded her with their 
worldly goods and navigated her themselves, ' ' arriving safe- 
ly at the mouth of the Brazos on January 14, 1835. Pro- 
ceeding up that river to a point in what is now Fort Bend 
county, they struck a snag, sinking the frail craft, but suc- 
ceeded in saving most of their household effect® and pro- 
visions. Procuring oxen and improvising carts- they slowly 
continued up country reaching Robertson's coloDy early in 
April — settling near the mouth of Pond Creek in what is 
now Falls county." 

Misfortunes, it seems, beset these colonists almost from 
the very day they reached their destination — this 1 'land of 
promise.'" Not satisfied with the Pond Creek country, 
one of the McLennan 's, more venturesome than prudent, in the 
latter part of 1835 or early in 1S36, loaded his effects, and 



♦"Neil McLennan," says Capt. Davidson, who as a boy, knew him at the village of 
Nashville, "was the soul of honor, and a most useful citizen— When a couple wanted to get 
married they would always send for "Squire" McLennan. Have seen him unite sevaial 
couples— the occasion always being one of much frolic and feasting and one looked forward 
to with much anticipations of pleasure by those pioneer people of few and simple pastimes. 
I knew the McLennans well, and can truly say that among the early pioneers of Texas there 
was not to be found a grander or nobler gentleman than Neil McLennan."— Davidson's Let- 
ter-3-26-1907. 



170 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



with his wife, two small boys, and an infant, removed to a 
more desirable location on the San Gabriel, at a point in 
what is now Williamson count/. Arriving at this new home- 
place, it was found they were out of meat. Mr. McLennan, 
taking his gun and the oldest boy, went in search of game, 
leaving his wife and two other children, to "keep camp." 

,. Becoming lost, he did not return until dark, when he found 
the camp plundered and his loved cues gone. Indians had 

* -discovered the "new comers" and visited them, capturing 
(the mother and her two children. In fiendish glee they 

• stripped their captives of every vestage of apparel and tied 
them fast, while they plundered the camp. Breaking open 
a large trunk they found a "looking glass "—-apparently a 
great curiosity to the Indians, who became very much ab- 
sorbed, performing many antics over and around the mir- 
ror. 'Taking advantage of this, and at a time when the In- 
dians were some little distancs away, Mrs. McLennan un- 
tied herself and child, and taking her infant, quietly moved 
toff, motioning her little boy to follow. Reaching the San 
Gabriel bottom she found a sheltering rocly under which 
she concealed herself and children. So absorbed were the 
Indians in plundering the camp and playing with the mys- 
terious glass, they did not mis 3 their captives until late ; a 
.hurried search was made, but the hiding refugees fortunate- 
ly, escaped the viigilant obser /aliens, the Indians leaving as 
night came on. 

Naturally supposing his wife and babies had been cap- 
tured, and perhaps murdered, McLennan, with his little 
mn, set out for the settlements many miles below. The re- 
fugees remained in hiding all night, suffering much from 
cold, and in the morning a few remnants of clothing were 
found, also a little corn scattered in the dust, and which 
was their only sustenance. In this terrible condition, al- 
most Famished and naked, these helpless beings remained for 
several days, until the husband and father returned from 
the settlement, with a small company raised for the purpose 
of pursuit and the hope of rescue. 

Approaching the camp, Mrs. McLennan was discovered 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



171 



scratching in the dust in search of grains of corn, but think- 
ing the men were Indians she fled, in wild fright, and had 
to be run down and caught. Poor woman, though overjoy- 
ed when realizing deliverance, she was almost crazed from 
exposure and hunger, and so emaciated that her husband 
could scarcely realize the change. Thus providentially spared 
worse misfortune, the family were glad to find a home in 
a less exposed section. 

MURDER OP THE LAUGHLXN McLENNAN FAMILY — 
"INDIAN JOHN," McLENNAN. 

In the winter of 1835- '6, when most of the settlers had 
retired from this exposed frontier, in consequence of the 
hostility of Indians, these brave families remained on their 
little farms. In the spring of '36 their first and saddest 
misfortune overtook them. While splitting rails, a party of 
Indians, probably Wacos, surprised and killed Laughlin and 
his wife and captured their three small children — Laugh- 
lin 's aged and f eebled mother, unable to walk being burned 
alive in the house. Two of the captive children soon died. 
The other, John, a fine little fellow of seven years , was 
adopted and remained with the Indians some years till re- 
covered through treaty stipulations in 1846 — Neil McLen- 
nan attending the council high up on the Brazos, and 
bringing his nephew back to the village of Nashville. Now 
a grown young man, unable to speak a word of English, 
dressed in the Indian garb a»d with all the propensities of 
that race, he was indeed "the very picture of a wild war- 
rior," and it was no ordinary task to win "this young sav- 
age" to civilization. It was very hard to get him reconciled 
to his relatives and their modes and manners, "but with the 
return of his mother tongue he became more civilized and 
contented." "My mother" says Capt. W. T. Davidson, 
"made the first garment he would wear, out of red cioth, and 
besides provided him with a straw hat with a red ribbon 
band streaming down about a yard, of which he was very 
proud." During the lifetime of his adopted Indian 
mother, we are told he often visited her, being al- 



172 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



ways loaded with such presents as he knew would 
gratify her — thus showing his gratitude for her care and 
attention to him during his boyhood. Eventually he became 
•entirely reconciled, married happily and settled down on 
Hog Creek, in Bosque county, where he resided till his 
death in 1866. 

Thus admonished by this terrible tragedy, of the dangers 
to which they were exposed on that then extreme frontier, 
the McLennans removed. down to the f rentier village of 
Nashville, where they remained till the spring of 1837, when 
Neil Sr., ventured back to his farm and commenced a crop, 
and when the Indians again made an attack, the father and 
his son, John, (afterwards sheriff, first of Milam and then 
of McLennan county) barely escaped, and a neigro man was 
captured — but soon to effect his escape and return to his 
master.* 



FALL OP PARKER'S FORT-THE HORRIBLE MASSACRE. 
FATE OF THE CAPTIVES. A THRILLING STORY. 

Settlers >at Parker's fort participated in the "runaway 
scrap" in the spring of 1836, and went as far east as the 
Trinity which they were unable to cross, as the river was so 
swollen by heavy rains. While encamped on its western 
bank, they were informed of the victory of San Jacinto, and 
at once started back to the fort, which they reached without 
unusal incident. 



*"McLennan's faithful old negro servant, Alf for that was his name, in telling of 
the attack and his capture by Indians," says Capt. W. T. Davidson, "told me the first inti- 
mation he had that the Indians were anywhere about, he saw them jumping over the field 
fence where he was at work. He broke for the timber, but a big stalwart fellow pursued 
him, running up behind and slapped his hand on his shoulder, with the exclamation: 
'Whoop!' They carried him off a prisoner and kept him for some time. Alf was a great 
character and was the only negro fiddler in the town of Nashville, and always played for 
the young people to dance about once a week. They would pay him in dressed deer skins, 
old clothes, shoes, and as much corn whisky as he could drink. They danced nothing but 
the reel or 'break-down' in those days, and Alf would play: 'Give the fiddler a dram, give 

the fiddler a dram, and let him drink it and be d ed,' or 'We will dance all night till 

broad daylight and go home with the gals in the morning,' and always accompanied the 
music with song. Those were great days— good old times— and were enjoyed by those 
brave and happy "folks,'— a great deal more than thellpresent times and (of) modern 
dances." -Letter S, 26, 07. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



173 



Parker's Fort was located near the headwaters of the 
Navasota, one half miles north-west of the site of the town 
of Groesbeck, in Limstone county, in the heart of what was 
then a wilderness, but now a fruited and thickly populated 
region divided into farmsteads and dotted' with villages and 
towns. 

Fort Houston, situated a mile or two west of the site of 
Palestine, on land now included in the John H. Reagan, 
farm two miles west of Palestine, in Andersen county, was 
the nearest white settlement. Others were distant sixty 
miles or more. 

Parker 's fort consisted of cabins surrounded by a stock- 
ade. A large double gate afforded access to the enclosure. 
The outer walls of the log cabins formed part of the 
walls of the stockade. Their roofs sloped inward. At one 
loir more corners of the stockade were block houses. The 
walls around the entire quadrangle were perforated with 
loop holes. The fortification was bullet proof, and, like 
others of the kind, could not be taken by Indians if defend- 
ed by a few well-armed and determined men. It was built 
for the purpose of being occupied by the families living in 
the vicinity, when there was daDger of attack by Indians. 
Most of the farms — some of them near-by and others a mile 
or so away — were provided with cabins where the tired colo- 
nists occasionally spent the night. 

The patriarch of the settlement was Elder John Parker, 
seventy nine years of age. His aged wife /'Granny " Parker, 
was, perhaps, a few years younger. He was a Virginian 
by birth; resided for a time in Elbert county, Ga. ; chiefly 
reared his family in Bedford county, Tenn. ; afterwards lived 
for several years in Cole county, 111. ; and then moved, in 
1833, to Texas where Parker's fort was erected in tjhe follow- 
ing year. Some of the f amily came to Tecxas prior, and .others 
subsequent, to that time. 

The little group consisted o f the following persons : El- 
der John Parker and wife (Granny Parker) ; James W. 
Parker (son of Elder Joihin), <wife, four single children, 
married daughter, Mrs. Rachel Plummer, and her husband, 



174 



BOEDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



L. T. M. Plummer, and fifteen months old son, James Pratt 
Plummer, and one daughter, Mrs. Sarah Nixon, and her hus- 
band, L. D. Nixon ; Silas M. Parker (son of Elder John) and 
this wife, and four children ; Benjamin F. Parker (an un- 
married son of Elder John) ; Mrs. Nixon, Sr., (mother of 
Mrs. James. W. Parker) ; Mrs. Elizabeth Kellogg (daughter 
of Mrs. Naxon, Sr.) ; Mrs. Duty; Samuel M. Frost and his 
wife and children; Robert Frost; G. E. Dwight and his wife 
and children; David Faulkenberry and his son, Evan; Seth 
Bates and his son, Silas H. ; Elisha Anglin and his nineteen 
year old son, Abram, and old man Lunn — in all thirty-eight 
persons. 

On returning to Parker's fort from the Trinity, the lit- 
tle band busied itself with gathering together its scattered 
stock and in preparing the fields for putting in crops, all 
unsconseious of the fearful massacre that was to extinguish, 
so soon, the bright hopes they entertained of the fu- 
ture, and the lives of many of their number; and 
an unspeakable mental anguisjh and physical sufferings upon 
others of the survivors. 

Early on the morning of May 19, 1836, James W. Parker, 
Nixon and Plummer left the fort, and repaired to a farmi a 
mile from there, and David Faulkenberry and his son Evan, 
Silas H. Bates and Abram Anglin went from the fort to 
their fields a mile farther away. 

Seth Bates, Elisha Anglin, and old man Lunn either slept 
at their cabins the night before, or left the fort prior to 9 
o'clock the morning of the 19th. 

At that hour from five hundred to seven hundred In- 
dians (Comanches and Kiowas) appeared on the prairie two 
or three hundred yards from the fort, displayed a white 
flag, and sent forward one of their number, whlo said that 
they had no hostile intentions, and merely wanted some 
one to come out from the fort and direct them to a spring 
Jwhich they understood was near-by, and to be furnished a 
beef. 

, Subsequent events justify the belief that this Indian 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



175 



acted as a spy, noticed that nearly all the men were absent, 
end reported the practically defenseless condition of the oc- 
cupants of the fort. Benjamin F. Parker went out to the In- 
dians and, after returning, stated that it was his belief 
they were hostile and intended to attack the fort. He saicfc 
that he would go to them again and try to dissuade them. 
His brother, Silas M. Parker, urged him net to go, but he*, 
went, nevertheless, and was immediately surrounded and 
killed. 

While this tragedy was in progress, Elder John Park- 
er, ' 'Granny'' Parker and Mrs. Kellogg, fled from the 
fort in ore party, and Mrs. James W. Parker and children* 
by themselves ; Silas M. Parker and Mrs. Plummer ran out- 
side the stockade. Everyone tried to escape. 

As socn as the Indians appeared, Mrs. Sarah Nixon left 
for the farm where her father, husband and Plummer were 
at work, to tell them of the imminent peril the occupants 
of the fort were in. 

The savages kept up terrific ishouting and yelling while 
they were murdering Benjamin F. Parker — the peculiar 
blood-curdling Comanche scream (once heard, never forgot- 
ten) rising above the less distinctive cries of the Kiowas* 
Most of them rushed upon the fort, the gate of which was 
open; the remainder went in pursuit of the parties of ref- 
ugees that were still in sight. 

The main body of Indians first encountered and killed 
Silas M. Parker just outside tte fort, where he fought to 
the last, trying to protect Mrs. Plummer. This Opposition 
necessitated the attention of some of the Indians, who kiLV 
ed and scalped Silas M. Parker, knocked unconscious with a 
hoe and captured Mrs. Plummer, after fierce resistance on 
tier part, and tfhe/n poured into the fort, where they joined 
their companion fiends, and helped to murder Samuel M. and f 
Robert Frost, who fought and fell as true men should. 
Mrs. Nixon, Sr., Mrs. Duty and all the other women and 
cMdren, managed to get out of the fort before and during: 
the melee. 

Shrieks of victims rent the air. Hundreds of brazens 



176 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



throated savages shouted and screamed war-whoops, curses, 
and taunts. The thud of blows delivered with war-clubs 
and tomahawks, and the sharp reports of firearms resound- 
ed. Blood and death were everywhere. Murder, with bat- 
like wings, brooded over the scene infernal, and drank in 
the babel of piteous and fierce sounds that rose from it. 

Elder John Parker, "Granny" Parker, and Mrs. Kellogg 
were captured when they had gone three-fourths of a mile. 
They were brought back to a spot near the fort, where El- 
der John Parker was stripped, speared and killed, and ' ' Gran- 
ny" Parker was stripped of everything except her under- 
clothing, speared, outraged, and left for dead. The In- 
dians kept Mrs. Kellogg as a prisoner. 

When Mrs. Sarah Nixon reached the field to tell of the 
coming of the Indians, she found her father, James W. Par- 
ker, and Plummer. Her husband had gone down to the 
other farm. Plummer at once hastened to the latter place 
to convey information of the danger. James W. Parker 
started immediately for the fort. Enroute he met his wife 
and children, and others. 

Plummer reached Nixon first and told him that the fort 
was surrounded by Indians. Without waiting for the oth- 
er men to come up, Nixon, though unarmed, ran toward the 
fort. In a few moments he met Mrs. Lucy Parker (wife 
of Silas M. Parker) and her four children, just as they 
were overtaken by Indians. They compelled her to lift be- 
hind two mounted warriors, her nine-year-old daughter 
Cynthia Ann, and little boy, John. The foot Indians then 
took her and her two younger children back to the fort, Nix- 
on following. She passed around, and Nixon through the 
fort. 

At the moment the Indians were about to kill Nixon, 
David Faulkenberry appeared with his rifle and leveling it, 
caused them to fall back. Thereupon Nixon left in search 
of his wife and overtook Dwight and family, and Frost's 
family, and with them, met James W. Parker and family 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



177 



and his own wife, Mr*. Sarah Nixon. This group hastened 
to the Navasota bottom and hid in a thicket. 

Faulkenberry ordered Mrs. Lucy Parker to follow him, 
which she did, carrying her infant in her arms and holding 
her other child by the hand. The Indians made several 
dashes toward them, but were brought up standing each 
•time by Faulkenberry turning upon them and presenting his 
rifle. One warrior, bolder than the rest, rode up so close 
that Mrs. Parker's faithful dog seized his horse by the 
nose, whereupon horse and rider somersaulted into a gully. 
At this time Silas H. Bates, Abram Anglin and Evan Faul- 
kenberry, armed with rifles, and Plummer, unarmed, came 
up, and the pursuing Indians, after making further hostile 
demonstrations, retired. While this party of refugees were 
passing through Silas M. Parker's field, Plummer, as if 
awakened from a dream, asked w T here his wife and child 
were, and taking the butcher knif e of Abram Anglin, went in 
search of them. Seth Bates and old man Lunn were met a 
little farther on, and the party proceeded to a hiding place 
in the creek bottom. 

At twilight Abram Anglin and Evan Faulkenberry 
started back to the fort. On reaching Seth Anglin 's cabin, 
three-fourths of a mile from their destination, they found 
1 ' Granny ' ' Parker. She had feigned death until the Indians left 
and then crawled there, more dead than alive. When An- 
glin beheld her, he thought he was looking at a ghost. In 
Ms account of the incident he says, "It was dressed in 
white, with long white hair streaming down its back. I ad- 
mit that I was worse scared at this moment than when the 
Indians were yelling, and charging us. Seeing me hesitate, 
my ghost now beckoned me to come on. Approaching the 
object, it proved to be old 'Granny' Parker. 

"I took some bed clothing and carrying her some dis- 
tance from the house, made her a bed, covered her up, and 
left her until we should return from the fort. On arriv- 
ing at the fort we could not see a single individual alive, or 
hear a human sound. But the dogs were barking, the cat- 



178 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



•tile lowing, the horses neagfhing, and the -ho-gts squealing. 

"Mrs. Parker had told me where she had left some sil- 
ver, $106.50. This I found under a hickory bush, by moon- 
light. Finding no one at the fort, we returned to where I 
had hidden ' Granny ' Parker. On taking her up behind me, 
we made our way back to our hiding place in the bottom, 
where we found Nixon.' 7 

Next morning Silas H. Bates, Abram Anglin and Evan 
Faulkenberry went back to the fort, where they secured 
five or six horses, a few saddles and bridles and some meal, 
bacon and hcney; but, fearing that the Indians might 
return, did not tarry to bring the dead. 

With the aid of the horses and provisions, the party 
with David Faulkenberry made its way to Fort Houston. 
They did not then know what had become of James W. Par- 
ker and those with him. 

The people with James W. Parker, consisting of G. 
E. Dwight and nineteen women and children, reached, after 
traveling six days, Tinnin's, at the old San Antonio and 
Nacogdoches crossing of the Navasota, emaciated by star- 
vation, with nearly all their clothing torn off of them by 
thorns, and that which remained reduced to shreds, their 
bodies and limbs lacerated and their feet swollen and bleed- 
ing. Messrs. Carter and Courtinig learned of tftieir approach, 
went out to meet them with five horses, and brought them 
in. 

The settlers at Tinnin's, themselves but recently returned 
from the' 'runaway scrape" and poorly supplied with necessa- 
ries, divided their little all of food and clothing with the suf- 
ferers, and cheered and comforted them as best they could. 

There were hearts of gold in Texas in those days — 
of the kind of gold that is in the heavenly city, and not in 
the fated fane of Mammon. 

A party of twelve men went up from Fort Houston and 
buried the dead :< ' Granny " Parker did not live long after 
reaching Fort Houston. Most of the Parker's Fort set- 
tlers later returned to that location. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



179 



Upon leaving Parker's fort after the massacre, the 
Comanches and Kiowas traveled, together until midnight, 
when they halted, went into camp, tied their prisoners so 
tightly hand and foot that blood welled up from beneath 
the cruel cords, threw the prisoners on their faces, built 
fires, erected a pole, and engaged in a scalp dance 
around it that lasted until mornirjg. The savages seemed 
drunk with the horrors they had perpetrated, and aband- 
oned themselves without restraint to the frenzy of the 
dance. 

They chanted and shouted themselves hoarse, leaped 
into tire air, contorted their bodies, and re-enacted the mur- 
ders they had committed until even the limit of their phys- 
ical endurance was exceeded. 

The maddened demons tramped upon the prisoners and 
beat them with bows, until they were covered with blood 
and bruises. 

The orgie ended at last, leading Mrs. Kellogg, Mrs* 
Plummer and the children more dead than alive. 

When the Indians parted they divided the prisoners 
among them. Mrs. Plummer was separated from her little 
son, James Pratt Plummer, he b^ing taken by one band and 
she by another. 

Mrs. Kellogg was sold to the Keechies and by them to 
the Delawares, who, about six months after her capture, car- 
ried her into Nacogdoches and surrendered her to Gen. Sam 
Houston, who paid them $150.00, the amount they had paid 
the Keechies, and all they demanded. 

While she was being conveyed from Nacogdoches to 
Fort Houston by James W. Parker and others, a Mr. Smith 
wounded and disabled an Indian, whom she recognized as 
the savage who scalped Elder John Parker. As soon as she 
made known the fact, Parker, Smith and others of the party 
killed the man — riddling his carcass with bullets, and leav- 
ing it where it fell for wolves and buzzards to dispose of. 

Six months after she was captured Mrs. Plummer gave 
birth to a boy baby. She begged an Indian woman to tell 



180 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



her how to save the child, but the squaw turned a deaf ear 
to her pleadings. One day, while she was nursing the in- 
fant, several Indians came to her aEd t one of -them tore the 
child from her, strangled it with his hands, tossed it in 
the air and let it fall on the ground until life seemed ex- 
tinct, and then threw it at her feet, while the others held 
her, despite franltdc struggling. The bucks then left 
her. In her printed narrative she says, "I had been weep- 
ing incessantly whilst they were murdering my child, but 
now my grief was so great that the fountain of my tears 
was dried up. As I gazed on the bruised cheeks of my dar- 
ling infant, I discovered some symptoms of returning life. I 
hoped that if it could be resuscitated, they would allow me 
to keep it. I washed the blood from its face, and after a 
lime it began to breathe again. But a more heart-rending 
scene ensued. As soon as the Indians ascertained that the 
child was still alive, they tore it from my arms and knocked 
me down. They then tied a plaited rope around its neck 
iind threw it into a bunch of prickly pears, and then pulled 
it backward and forward until its tender flesh was liter- 
ally torn from its body. One of the Indians, who was 
mounted on a horse, then tied the end of the rope to his 
saddle and galloped around in a circle until my little inno- 
cent was not only dead, but torn to pieces. One of them 
then untied the rope and threw the remains of the child 
into my lap, and I dug a hole in the earth and buried 
them." 

The Indians killed the child because they thought that 
caring for it interf erred with the mother's work. After- 
wards she was given to a squaw as se/rvaint. Tlie 
squaw, after much cruel treatment, attempted to beat her 
with a club. Mrs. Plummer wrenched the club from the 
Indian woman's hands and knocked her down with it. The 
Indian men, who were at some distance, ran, yelling, to the 
scene. Mrs. Plummer expected nothing less than to be killed 
by them. Instead, they patted her on the back, exclaiming 
"bueno! bueno!" — good! good! 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



181 



After that she was called the "fighting squaw," and 
was much better treated. After a captivity of one and a 
half years, she was ransomed by Mr. Williami Donoho, a 
Santa Fe mercfhant-trader — the same generous, tender- 
hearted and ndble gentleman through, wftiose efforts the unr 
fortunate Mrs. Horn and Mrs. Karris were rescued 1 from 
savagie captivity, as previously related. 

The Indian camp in which she was found was so far 
north of Santa Fe that it took seventeen days travel to 
reach that place. Mr. and Mrs. Dcncho took her with them 
to Independence, Missouri. There she met her brother-in- 
law, L. D. Nixon, who brought her to> Texas, where she 
crossed the door sill of her father's home February 19, 1838. 
She wrote, or had written, an account of her Indian captiv- 
ity. Her death occurred February 19, 1839. The 19th day 
of months seems to have had an occult significance for her. 
She was born on the 19th, was married on the 19th, was 
captured on the 19th, was ransomed on the 19th, reached 
Independence on the 19th, arrived at home on the 19th and. 
died on the 19th. 

S!he died without; knowing what had become of her 
son, James Pratt Plummer. He was ransomed late in 1842 
and taken to Fort Gibson, and reached home in February, 
1843, in charge of his grandfather, acd became a highly es- 
teemed citizen of Anderson County. 



CYNTHIA ANN PARKER— JOHN PARKER — CHIEF 
QUANAH PARKER. 

Many efforts were made by their relatives to trace and 
recover Cynthia Ann and John Parker, and 'Texan and 
United States government expeditions kept a sharp look- 
out for them; but without avail, until Cynthia Ann was un- 
expectedly captured at the battle of Pease River, in 1860. 

There is a fairly authenticated story to the following 
effect: In 1840 (four years after her capture at Parker's 
fort) Col. Len Williams, Stoal (a trader) and a Dela- 
ware Incian guide, named "Jack Henry' ' found her with 



182 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Pa-ha-u-ka's band of Comanche Indiana on the Canadian 
River. Col. Williams offered to ransom her, but the Indian 
into whose family she had been adopted said that all the 
goods the Colonel had were not sufficient to get her, that 
she would not be surrendered for any consideration. CoL 
Williams requested the privilege of talking with her, and 
she was permitted to come into his presence. She walked 
quietly to him and seated herself at the foot of a tree, but 
could not be induced to utter a word, cr make a gesture 
that showed whether she did cr did not understand what 
ihe said to her. She was then thirteen years old. Some 
years later she became the squaw of the noted Comanche 
chief, Peta Nocona, and bore him several children. 

Victor M. Rose says: "Fifteen years after her capture 
a party of white hunters, including some friends of her fam- 
ily, visited the Comanche encampment on the upper Cana- 
dian, and recognizing Cynthia Ann, probably through the 
medium of her name alone, sounded her in a secret manner 
as to the desirableness of a return to her people and. the 
haunts of civilization. She shook her head in a sorrowful 
negative, and pointed to her little naked barbarians sport- 
ing at her feet, and to the great, lazy buck sleeping in the 
shade near at hand, the locks of a score of scalps dangling 
at his belt, and whose first utterance upon arousing would 
l>e a stern command to his meek, pale faced wife. 'Though, 
in truth, exposure to sun and air had browned the com- 
plexion of Cynthia Ann almost as intensely as that of the 
native daughters of the plain andj forest. She said, ' I am 
happily wedded. I love my) husband, who is good and kind, 
and my little ones, too, are his, and I cannot forsake them/ " 

If, indeed the entire account given by Rose is not apoch- 
ryphal, it is certain that Cynthia Ann did not employ ,in her 
reply, the set of words attributed to her, and that she did 
not speak in her mother tongue. 

When recaptured, the veneer of savagery that covered 
ner was so thick that it took time and unremitting, loving 
-care to remove it. 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



183 



Young Lawrence Sullivan Ross, then a dashing ranger 
Captain ; in after years to win much renown as a Confederate 
Brigadier-General ; Governor of Texas, and later, President of 
the A. and M. college of Texas till his untimely death, in com- 
mand of a company of Texas rangers, a sergeant and twenty 
United States dragoons, and seventy citizens from Palo Pinto 
county under Capt. Jack Curington, came upon an Indian 
village at the head waters of Pease River. Most of his men 
were some distance in his rear, their horses being much jad- 
ed by travel and want of food. With him were the dra- 
goons and twenty of his own men. With these, he charged 
immediately. The Indians, although surprised, fought with 
more than usual bravery, their women and children and all 
o^ their possessions being with them. They could not hold 
their ground against such an attacking force, however, and, 
after many had been killed, the survivors tried to escape 
to the mountains, about six miles distant. Lieut. Thomas 
Kellihuir pursued one, and Capt. Ross and Lieut. Somerville 
another. Somerville was a heavy man, and his horse fell be- 
hind. Ross dashed on and overtook the Indian he was af- 
ter. A fierce combat followed, resulting in the death of 
the Indian, who proved to be Peta Nocona, chief of the band. 

Kellihuir captured the supposed Indian he was after, and 
who proved to be Cynthia Ann Parker. She had in her 
arms a girl child about two and a half years of age, Topa- 
sannah — " Prairie Flower.' ' It was not known at the time 
who the captured woman was. She spoke no word that tend- 
ed to clear the mystery. Lieut. Sublett picked up a Coman- 
che boy. Capt. Ross took charge of him, named him Pease, 
and reared him at Waco. 

On returning to the settlements, Capt. Ross sent for 
Isaac Parker, thinking it possible that the woman might be 
Cynthia Ann Parker. Thrall says: "The venerable Isaac 
Parker, still in hopes of hearing of his long lost niece, went 
to the camp. Her age and general appearance suited the 
object of his search, but she had lest every word of her 
native tongue. Col. Parker was about to give up in de- 



184 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



spair, when he turned to the interpreters iand said very dis~ 
tinctly that the woman he was seeking was named 1 Cynthia 
Ann.' The sound of the name by which her mother had 
called her, awakened in the bosom of the poor captive emo- 
tions that had long lain dormant. In a letter to us Col. 
Parker says: 'The moment I mentioned the name, she 
straightened herself in her seat and, patting herself on the 
breast, said, 'Cynthia Ann, Cynthia Ann.' A ray of recol- 
lection sprang up in her mind, that had been obliterated for 
twenty-five years. Her very countenance changed, and a 
pleasant smile took the place of a sullen gloom.' 

" Returning with her uncle, she soon regained her na- 
tive tongue. It was during the war, and she learned to 
spin and weave and make herself useful about the house." 
Her uncle took her to his home in Tarrant county. Soon 
thereafter she was carried to Austin and was there conducted 
by a party of ladies and gentlemen into the hall where 
the State Secession Convention was bein'g held in Aus- 
tin, in 1861. She appeared to be greatly distressed. In- 
quiry revealed the fact that she thought the assemblage 
was a meeting of war chiefs, convened for the purpose of de- 
ciding her fate, and was apprehensive that they would con- 
demn her to death. 

An act of the Texas Legislature, approved April 8, 1861, 
granted Cynthia Ann Parker a pension of $100 a year for 
five years, dating from January 1, 1861, and required the 
county court of Tarrant county to appoint a guardian for 
her, the guardian to give a bond, 4 'conditioned for the 
faithful application of the pension, and for the support and 
education of her child." Another act of the Legislature, in 
the same year, donated to her a league of land. 

An act of the Legislature, approved January 8, 1862, 
contained the following: " Silas M. Parker, of Van Zandt 
county, is hereby constituted as agent of Cynthia Ann 
Parker, formerly of Tarrant and now of Van Zandt coun- 
ty, and, on his giving bond in the sum of $400 to the Chief 
Justice of Van Zandt county, for the faithful application of , 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 18S 

said pension to the support of said Cynthia Ann Parker, 
and for the support and education of her child, Topasan- 
nah, the State Treasurer shall pay said pension to the said 
agent, or his order." 

The last appropriations to pay the pension were for the* 
years 1864 and 1865, and are contained in the general ap- 
propriation act passed by the Tenth Legislature, approved 
December 16, 1863. 

Topasannah (little Prairie Flower) died in. 1864, and dur- 
ing the same year the soul of the mother winged its way to 
the spirit land. Cynthia Ann w r as buried in the Foster grave- 
yard, Henderson county, Texas where her remains reposed for 
forty-six years — till late in December, 1910 through the ef- 
forts of the! adoring son, Chief Quanah Parker, they were ex- 
humed, conveyed to Lawton, Okla. ; and, after much cer- 
emony, re-interred in the Indian family cemetery at Post Oak r 
in the Wichita mountains. And thus briefly traced, closes- 
the history of this unfortunate woman, far famed in the 
border annals of Texas 

Cynthia Ann Parker had two other children, besides 
u Prairie Flower" — both sons, and both with the Coman- 
ehes. One of the boys died not long after her own demise;, 
the other, Quanah by name, who long survived and acquired 
renown as the head chief of all the Comanehes. Aged, and 
beloved by both the red and white man, the famous chief 
died at his tribal home, on Thursday, February 23, 1911, and 
was buried as he had so desired to be, by the side of his 
mother, "Preloch," — Cynthia Ann Parker. 

The death of Quanah Parker marked the passing of the 
last of the great Indian chiefs— Sitting Bull, R<?d Cloudy 
Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph and Geronimo having preceded 
him some years to the " happy hunting grounds." 

John Parker, brother of Cynthia Ann, grew to man- 
hood among the Comanehes, and participated in their fo- 
rays as a Comanche brave. During a raid into Mexico, a 
Mexican girl was captured. Shortly thereafter he was. 
stricken with gmall-pox. The tribe fled from him in con-- 



186 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



sternation, and left him to die without attention. The Mex- 
ican girl remained with and nursed him back to health. 
Disgusted with his former comrades, he followed the girl's 
advice, and went with her to her people beyond the Rio 
Grande. He served in a Mexican company in the Confed- 
erate Army during the war between the states, but would 
not leave the soil of Texas, refusing even to cross the line 
into Louisiana. The last heard of him, he was living on a 
ranch in Mexico. He, too, has long since gone to his reward. 



DEATH OF McSHERRY AND STINNETT — KILLING OF 
HIBBINS AND CREATE AND THE CAPTURE OF 
MRS. HIBBINS AND CHILDREN — HEROISM 
OF THE LITTLE SON. 

Of the many, very many, pathetic episodes already 
chronicled, and yet to be recounted, the dual — triple; yea, 
four-fold tragic misfortunes of Mrs. McSherry — Hibbins — 
Stinnett — Howard, must certainly claim precedence, and in 
fact, are without <a parallel in border annals. Recording 
the multiplied incidents of the story (extending over a pe- 
riod of "13", to her, unfortunate years) at this juncture, 
and to connect the thread of narrative, we must revert a 
few years — closing with sad sequels. 

"In 1828," says John Henry Brown, "there arrived on 
the Guadalupe River, a young couple from the vicinity of 
Brownsville, Jackson county, Illinois — John McSherry and 
his wife, Sarah, whose maiden name was Creath. They set- 
tled on the west side of the Guadalupe, in De Witt's colony 
at a place in what is now the lower edge of DeWitt county, 
near a little creek, which, with a spring, was some 
two hundred yards in front of the cabin they erected — 
wild and isolated, but one of the loveliest spots of the 
Southwest. Their nearest neighbor was Andrew Lockhart, 
ten miles up the river, and one of a large family of sterling 
pioneers on the Guadalupe, bearing that name. 

"Mrs. McSherry was a beautiful blonde, an excellent 
type of the country girls of the West in that day, very 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



187 



handsome in person, graceful in manner and pure of heart. 
Mr. McSherry was an honest, industrious man of nerve and 
will. They were happily devoted to each other. 

* 4 Early in 1829 their first child, a son, was born, com- 
plementing the full measure of their connubial bliss — but 
alas! soon to be blighted with a most direful calamity. " 

"Later in the same year," continues Brown, "about 
noon on a pleasant day, Mr. McSherry went to the spring 
for a bucket of water. As he arose from the bank> bucket 
in hand, a party of Indians, with a wild yell, sprang from 
the bushes, and in a moment he was a lifeless corpse. His 
wife, hearing the yell, sprang to the door, saw him plainly 
and realized the peril of herself and infant. In the twink- 
ling of an eye, she barred the door, seized the gun, and 
resolved to defend herself and baby unto death. The sav- 
ages surveyed the situation and maneuvered to and fro, 
but failed to attack the cabin, and soon disappeared. Thus 
she was left alone, ten miles from the nearest habitation, 
and without a road to that, or any other place. But truly, 
in the belief of every honest person of long frontier expe- 
rience, the ways of Providence are inscrutable. About dark, 
John McCrabb, a fearless and excellent man, well armed 
and mounted, but wholly unaware of the sad condition of 
matters, rode up to the cabin to pass the night. Hearing 
the recital, his strong nerves became stronger, and his heart 
pulsated as became a whole-souled Irishman. Very soon he 
placed the young mother and babe on his horse, and by the 
light of the stars, started on foot, through the wilderness, 
for the house of settler Lockhart, reaching it before daylight, 
where warm hearts bestowed all possible care and kindness 
on those so ruthlessly stricken in the wilderness, and so 
remote from all kindred ties." : | ,. 

Here in this hospitable home the bereaved lady re- 
mained, till she met, was wooed, and married John 
Hibbins, a worthy man, who settled on the east side 
of the Guadalupe, in fthe vicinity of where the town of 
Concrete, in DeWitt county, now stands. . '\ j j 



188 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



Again happy and prosperous, in the summer of 1835, 
"with her little boy, John Mc Sherry, and an infant by Mr. 
Hibbins, she visited her kindred in Illinois — returning in 
company with a single brother, George Creath, in boat, via 
New Orleans, and thence to Columbia, on the Brazos, 
"where, early in February, 1836, Mr. Hibbins met them 
with an ox-cart, on which they began the journey home.' , 
From Beason's Crossing on the Colorado, they proceeded 
to the Navidad, and thence along the old La Bahia road, 
reaching their last camp on Rock Creek, six miles above the 
subsequent village of Sweet Home, in Lavaca county, and 
within about fifteen miles of their home, where they were 
suddenly attacked by thirteen Comanche Indian warriors, 
who immediately killed Hibbins and Creath, made captives 
of Mrs. Hibbins and her two children, took possession of the 
effects, and leisurely moved off, passing up through the 
Peach Creek timbered region, between the Guadalupe and 
the Colorado. At their second camp, Mrs. Hibbins' suf- 
fering little babe, crying from pain, was seized by one of 
the fiends and its brains dashed out against a tree, before 
the eyes of its shrieking, frantic, but helpless mother. 

For an account of this lady's further sufferings, prov- 
idential escape, and rescue of her little son, on this occa- 
sion, we quote from the Reminiscences of the octogenarian 
pioneer, Noah Smithwick, who wrote from personal knowl- 
edge — prefacing with the providential, or at least fortunate 
fact that, on account of the numerous and alarming depre- 
dations of the Indians all along that frontier, Capt. John J. 
Tomlinson had been commissioned with a small company 
of rangers — the first ever raised under the revolutionary 
government of Texas — for protection, and was at that time 
in close proximity to this band of marauder*. Says Smith> 
wick, one of the company: ""We were assigned to duty on 
the headwaters of Brushy Creek, some thirty miles north- 
west of the site of the present capital, that city not hav- 
ing been even projected then. The appointed rendezvous 
was Hornsby's station, ten miles below Austin, on the Col- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



139 



orad©, from which place we were to proceed at once to 
our post, taking such materials as were necessary to aid 
m in the construction of a blcck house. * * * Just as wo 
were preparing for our supper, a young white woman, an en- 
tire stranger, her clothing hanging in shreds about her 
toin and bleeding body, dragged herself into camp and 
sank exhausted on the ground. The feeling of rest and re- 
lief cn finding herself among friends able and willing to 
help her, so overcame her overtaxed strength that it was 
some little time before she could give a coherent explana- 
tion of her situation, name, and sad misfortunes. * * * 

"The scene <of the attack being a lonely spot on a lone- 
ly road, the cunning redskins knew there was little risk of 
the outrage being discovered till they were beyond the reach 
of pursuit; so when a cold norther met them at the cross- 
ing of the Colorado, about where the city of Austin now stands, 
they sought the shelter of a cedar brake on Walnut Creek, 
and encamped. Confident that Mrs. Hibbins could not es- 
cape with her child, and trusting to her mother's love to 
prevent her leaving it, the Indians allowed her to lie un- 
bound, not even putting out guards. It was bitterly cold, 
and wrapping themselves in their buffalo robes, they were 
soon sound asleep. But there was no sleep for Mrs. Hib- 
bins — heroic woman, she resolved to escape and to rescue 
her child. There was no time to lose, as another day's 
travel would take her far beyond the settlements and the 
possibility of successful escape and procuring help before 
the savages reached their stronghold. Assured by their 
breathing that her captors w-ere asleep, and summoning all 
her courage, she careful] yj 'tucked the robe about her sleep- 
ing boy — her first-born, and now her only child — and stole 
away, leaving him to the mercy of the brutal barbarians. 

"She felt sure the river they had crossed was the Col- 
orado, and knew there were settlements below; how far 
down she had no idea, but that seeming to offer the only 
means of escape, she made straight for the river, hiding 
her tracks in the icy waters, and hurried away as fast as 



190 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the darkness would permit. Once she thought she heard 
her child call, 'Mamma! Mamma!' and her heart stood) still 
with fear that the Indians would he awakened and miss 
her. She momentarily expected to hear a yell of alarm, 
and not daring to leave the shelter of the bottom timber, 
she meandered the winding stream, sometimes wading in 
the shallow water along the edge, and again working her 
way through the brush and briars, tearing her clothing and 
lacerating her flesh, never pausing in her painful journey 
till late in the afternoon, when she came upon the first sign 
of civilization — some gentle milk cows I feeding along the river 
bottom, and felt that she must be near a white settlement, 
but dared not call for assistance, lest the Indians be in 
pursuit. Surmising the cows would soon be going home, she 
secreted herself nearby and waited till they had finished 
their browsing, and followed them in to the station — hav- 
ing spent nearly twenty-four hours in traveling a distance 
of only ten miles. 

' 'Fortunate beyond hope, in finding the rangers there, 
she implored us to save her child, describing the mule he 
rode, the band of Indians and the direction they were trav- 
eling. Hastily dispatching our supper, we were soon in the 
saddle, and, with a trusty guide, Reuben Hornsby, trav- 
eled on till we judged we must be near the trail, and fear- 
ful of crossing it in the darkness, we halted and waited 
for daylight. As soon as it was light enough, our scouts 
were out, and soon found the trail, fresh and well defined. 
Cautiously following, we came upon the Indians about 10 
o'clock in the moiming, just as they were preparing to 
break camp. Taken completely by surprise, ttfrey broke far 
the shelter o^ a cedar brake, leaving everything except 
such weapons as they hasiti'ly snatched as tfcey started." 

In the quick charge and pursuit, four warriors were 
killed before they could reach the almost impenetrable ce- 
dar brakes. Two of tihe rangers, Elijah Ingram and Hugh 
M. Childress, were wounded, while a number of thrilling, 
and some narrow, escapes occurred — Captain Tomlinsooa 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



191 



having has horse shot and killed* himself narrowly escap- 
ing death. 

"But," continues Smdthwick, "we got all their borsea 
and other plunder, and, to crown our success, we achieved 
the main object iof the expedition, whiiich was the rescue of 
the little boy, though the heedlessness of one of our men. 
came near robbing us of our prize in a shocking manner. 
The Indians, careful of the preservation of their little cap- 
tive — they intended to make a good Comanche of him — had! 
wrapped him up warmly in a buffalo robe and tied him on 
his mule, preparatory to resuming their journey. When we 
rushed upon them, they bad no time to remove him, and 
the mule, being startled by our charge, started to run, 
when one cf our men, not seeing that the rider was a cbild, 
gave chase, and, putting his gun against the back of the 
boy, pulled the trigger. Fortunately the gun missed fire. 
He tried again with like result. The third time bis fin- 
ger w&s on the trigger, when one of the other boys, perceiv- 
ing with horror the tragedy about to be enacted, knocked 
the gun up. It fired clear, sending a ball whistling over 
the head cf the rescued child. Providence seemed to have 
interposed to save him." 

Gathering up the spoils, and with their precious charge, 
the rangers now returned in triumph to their camp. Of 
the affecting scene, the joyous meeting here, we let Captain 
Tomlinson tell: "Lieut. Rogers* presented the child to its 
mother, and the scene which here ensued beggars descrip- 
tion. A mother meeting with her child released from In- 
dian captivity, rescued, as it were, from the very jaws of 
death! Not an eye was dry. She called us brothers, and 
every ether endearing name, and would have fallen on her 
knees to worship us. She hugged the child — her only re- 
maining treasure — to 'her bosom as if fearful that she 
would again lose him. And — but 'tis useless to say more." 

Near the same time — perhaps by the same tribe, if not 



♦ Lieut. Joseph Rogers was a brother of Mm. Gen. Edward Burleson, and was killed 
in a surprise attack by Indians near Hornsby's on the Colorado the following year. 



192 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



•same party, of Indians — and only about ten miles distant 
afrom the spot where Hibbins and Creath were killed, and. 
Mrs. Hibbins and children were captured, occurred the mur- 
der of the Douglas and Daugherty families, already related. 

But other tribulations were yet in store for this seeming- 
ly fated woman; who, however, survived forty or more 
years afterward — passing through other horrors — finally to 
•meet a peaceful death, mourned by her fourth husband, 
{Phillip Howard, in Bosque county. Gleaning the further 
facts of her extraordinary career we quote from Brown's de- 
tailed narrative, who, as neighbor to Mr. Howard in 1846, 
received the main facts from her own lips: — ' 1 Thus the 
mother and child, bereft of husband and father, and left 
-without a relative nearer than Southern Illinois, found them- 
•selves in the families of Messrs. Harrell and Hornsby, the 
outside settlers on the then feeble frontier of the Colorado — 
large hearted and sympathizing avant-couriers in the ad- 
vancing civilization of Texas. The coincident fall of the 
Alamo came to them as a summons to pack up their effects 
-.ancB hasten eastward, as their fellow citizens below were al- 
ready doing. 

"The mother and child accompanied these two families in 
flight from the advancing Mexicans, till they halted east of 
the Trinity, where, in a few weeks, couriers bore the glorious 
news of victory and redemption from the field of San Jacin- 
to. Soon they resumed their weary march, but this time for 
their homes. In Washington county Mrs. Hibbins halted!, 
under the friendly roof of a sympathizing pioneer. There 
she also met a former neighbor, in the person of Mr. Clai- 
borne Stinnett, an intelligent and estimable man, who, with 
Captain Henry S. Brown (father of the writer of this), rep- 
resented DeWitt's Colony in the first deliberative body ever 
-assembled at San Felipe, Octobsr 1, 1832. 

After a widowhood of twelve months, Mrs. Hibbins mar- 
ried Mr. Stinnett and they at once (in the spring of 1837) re- 
turned to their former home on the Guadalupe. In the organ- 
ization of 'Gonzales county, a little later, Mr. Stinnett was 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



193 



elected sheriff. Late in the fall with a pack-horse, he went 
to Linnville one day, to buy needed supplies. Loading/ thia 
extra horse with sugar, coffee, etc., and with $700.00 
in cash, he started home. B\J; instead of following 
the road by Victoria, he traveled a more direct route through 
the prairie. When about night, near the Arenosa creek, some 
twentv miles northeast of Victoria, he discovered a smoke in 
a grove of timber, and supposing it to be a camp of 
hunters, went to it. Instead, it was the camp of two 
c 'runaway" negro men, seeking their way to Mexico. 
They murdered Mr. Stinnett, took his horses, provis- 
ions and money, and, undiscovered, reached Mexico. The 
fate of the murdered man remained a mystery. No 
trace of him was found for five years until, in the 
fall of 1842, one of the negroes revealed all the facts to 
an American prisoner in Mexico (the late Col. Andrew Neill) 
and so described the locality that the remains of Mr. Stinnett 
were found and interred. 

Thus this estimable lady lost her third husband — two by 
red savages and one by black fiends — and was again alone 
without ties of kinship, except her child, in all the land. Yet 
she was still young, attractive in person and pure of heart, so 
that, two years later, she was wooed and won by Phillip 
Howard. Unwisely, in June, 1840, soon after their marriage, 
they abandoned their home on the Gaudalupe and removed 
to the ancient Mission of San Juan, eight miles below San 
Antonio. It was a trip of 100 miles through a wilderness often 
traversed by hostile savages. Hence they were escorted by 
seven young men of the vicinity, consisting of Byrd Lock- 
part, Jr., (of that well known pioneer family) young Mc- 
Gary, two brothers named P owers (one of whom was a boy of 
thirteen, and both the sons of a widow) and three others whose 
names are forgotten. On arriving at the mission in the fore- 
noon, their horses were "hobbled" out near by and little John 
McSherry, (the child of Mrs. Howard, recovered from the In- 
dians in 1836, and at this time in his eleventh year) was left 
on a pony to watch them ; but within half an hour a body of 



194 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Indians suddenly charged upon them, captured some of the 
horses and little John barely escaped by dashing into the 
camp, a vivid reminder to the mother that her cup of afflic- 
tion was not yet full. In a day or two the seven young men 
started on their return home. About noon next day, a heavy 
shower fell, wetting their fire-arms, but was soon followed by 
sunshine, when they all fired off their guns to clean and 
dry them. Most imprudently they all did so at the same 
time, leaving no loaded piece. This volley attracted the 
keen ear of seventy hostile Comanches who otherwise might 
not have discovered them. In a moment or two they ap- 
peared and cried out that they were friendly Tonkawas. The 
ruse succeeded and they, were allowed to approach and encir- 
cle the now helpless young men. Six of them were instantly 
slain, scalped and their horses and effects, with the boy Pow- 
ers, carried off. During the second night afterwards, in 
passing through a cedar brake at the foot of the Cibolo 
mountains, he slid quietly off his horse and escaped. In 
three or four days he reached the upper settlements on the 
Guadalupe, and gave the first information of these harrow- 
ing facts. 

Thus again admonished, Mr. and Mrs. Howard removed 
down on the San Antonio River, below the old Mexican ranch 
of Don Carlos de la Garza, in the lower edge of Goliad coun- 
ty, confident that no hostile Indians would ever visit that 
(secluded and far down locality. But they were mistaken. 
Early in the spring of 1842 marauding savages made a raid 
in that vicinity, stole a number of horses, killed stock, mur- 
dered settler Gilleland and wife in a most brutal manner and 
carried off their little son and daughter, but a party of vol- 
unteers, among whom were the late Maj. Alfred S. Thur- 
mond of Aransas, and the late Col. Andrew Neill of Austin, 
over-hauled and defeated the Indians and recaptured the chil- 
dren, the boy Wm. M. Gilleland long a prominent citizen: of 
Austin and the little girl, Mrs. Rebecca Fisher, still surviving, 
and a prominent member and leader of the Daughters of the 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 195 



Republic — a story full of pathos and tragedy, to be recount- 
ed hereinafter. 

Following this sixth admonition, Mr. and Mrs. Howard at 
once removed to the present vicinity of Hallettsville, in La- 
vaca county, and thenceforward her life encountered no 
repetition of the horrors which had so terribly followed her 
footsteps through the previous thirteen years. Peace and a 
fair share of prosperity succeeded. In 1848 Mr. Howard was 
made County Judge, and some years later they located in 
Bosque county, where she died and where he is believed to bo 
now living, probably a little past four-score years. 

Other incidents without exact dates, but all occurring 
during this year, in different sections' of the country — most- 
ly within the limits of Austin's colonies will be briefly no- 
ticed. Mainly, these are small affairs, in view of greater 
ones, but deserving of notice — illustrating at least, in an 
eminent degree, too, the tremendous hazards taken, and 
trials suffered, by the early picneeis of Texas in their 
struggles to secure and retain homes for themselves and 
their children, in this fair, but blood-bought land. 



THE HARVEY MASSACRE. 

Amcng other brave and worthy pioneers, were the Har- 
vey family, emigrating from Alabama, and settling near 
Wheelock, in what is now Robertscn county, Texas, in 
1835. In November of the following year, while the happy 
family were enjoying the frugal evening meal — little think- 
ing of near danger — a party of Indians, cautiously ap- 
proaching, attacked the house. Mr. Harvey attempted to se- 
cure his gun, in a rack over the door, but waslstruck in the 
neck by a bullet and) instantly killed. His wife concealed 
herself under one of the beds in the room, but was discov- 
ered, dragged out and after a desperate resistance, killed 
and ! horribly mutilated — the savage fiends cutting her 
heart out and placing it on her breast. The son, a lad, of 
about ten years, was also killed — "with many wounds' ' 



196 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



— his coat containing more than twenty holes. Securing 
the scalps of their victims the savages now departed, car- 
rying away as captives the little nine year old daughter, 
whose arm was broken during the massacre, and a negro 
servant girl. 

Finally, after more than a year's search, and the ex- 
penditure of considerable money, the daughter was found 
and ransomed by an uncle, James Tolbert, who carried her 
to his home in Alabama — removing thence to Texas. 

' 1 They settled, ' ' says the Rev. Morrell, ' ' near where her 
parents and brother were killed. She has since married, and 
when recently (1873) heard from, was living. I have often 
been at her 'house, and used the family Bible at worship, 
owned by her father; and which yet has upon its pages 
the blood of her parents, spilled by the hands [of the In- 
dians on that fearful night." — " Flowers and Fruits, or Thir- 
ty-Six Years in Texas," pp. 68, 69. 



CAPTURE OF MRS. YEARGIN AND CHILDREN. 

In the night, a few weeks before the battle of San Ja- 
cinto, a party of Comanches attacked the Yeargin home, 
on Cummings Creek, in Fayette county. This family was one 
of the few that had not joined their neighbors in the 
"runaway scrape." Mrs. Yeargin and her two little sons 
were captured — the aged husband and father escaped after 
pursuit, running afoot, it is said, ten miles, from the effects 
of which he soon died. 

After a captivity of some three months, the mother was 
reclaimed by relatives, at Coffee's trading house on Red 
River — the ransom paid being $300. But the Indians stead- 
fastly refused to sell the two little boys, and they were nev- 
er after heard of. Eventually recovering from the effects 
■of exposure and ill treatment at the hands of her cruel 
captors, but ever mourning the loss of her loved ones, this 
estimable lady survived many years, dying at her old home- 
stead a few years since. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



197 



FATE OF THE REEDS. 

Joseph and Braman Reed, brothers, were natives of Vir- 
ginia, emigrating to Texas in 1829, and first locating in 
the Bastrop community, removing after a short time to 
what is now Burleson icounty, settling on Davidson's Greek, 
where they followed the business of stock raising. One 
day in the spring of this year, Joseph Reed rede out on 
the range, looking after his cattle, and when about half a 
mile from 'home, was suddenly attacked by a party of forty 
or fifty Indians. Amid a perfect shower of arrows, Reed 
put spurs to his horse and fled for his home, pursued by 
the yelling savages. Mortally wounded, the poor man fell 
from his horse just as he reached his yard gate. His hero- 
ic wife, determining he should not be scalped and mutilat- 
ed, now rushed out and, under tthe excitement of the oc- 
casion, actually lifted her dead husband to her arms and 
dragged him into the cabin, which she succeeded in reach- 
ing unharmed, although the target of many arrows. 

Fortunately, the Indians d'd not attack the house, but 
left, camping, however in the vicinity. The brother of the 
dead man, arriving on the scene, spread the alarm, and 
socn collected a small party of settlers, who attacked the 
Indians in their camp. In the hard fight, Braman Reed, 
too, was killed, and several others wounded; and for a time 
the situation of the whites was desperate, but finally the 
chief fell, when the Indians fled, leaving their dead on the 
field. Though seldom following the harrowing practice of 
the savages, so exasperated were the whites on this occa- 
sion, we are told, they scalped the dead chief. 

In Travis county, in May of this year, depredating In- 
dians plundered the house of Nathaniel Moore, who, with his 
family was absent, and on the following morning at Thom- 
as Moore's, killed Conrad Rohrer, from ambush, as he was 
saddling his horse to ride out after his team. Showing* 
tibemselveB now, to the number of ten, they threat ened) to 
attack Moore 's house, but desisted on the appearance of eev- 



198 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



•eral men, wiho happened to be stepping over night at 
Moore's. 



KILLING OF EDWARDS. 

About the same time, and in the same section, John Ed- 
wards, one of the early pioneers of Texas, was killed by In- 
dian®. In company with Mr. Bartholomew Manlove, he was 
traveling from the town of Bastrop to Washington. Ap- 
proaching under the guise of friendship, the Indians shook 
hands with Edwards, and then fell upon him, spearing him 
to death. Manlove had fled at the first sight of the enemy 
and after a hard race of several miles, effected his escape.* 

On one occasion, three men — John Marlin, Jarrett and 
Lanham Menifee, repaired to the vicinity of a beetree they 
had discovered. Walking single file along a narrow, wood- 
ed trail, they suddenly discovered an Indian aiming at 
them, but his gun missed 'fire, when Marlin and Lanham 
Menifee both f ired, "each killing the same Indian/ ' Re- 
loading their guns, the settlers proceeded but a few paces 
further, wihen they were fired upon by other Indians in tun- 
bush. The fire was quickly returned with fatal effect- 
killing two more Indians and causing the others to retreat 
to a dense thicket. Joined at this moment by another set- 
tler, who chanced to be riding in that direction, the two re- 
maining Indians were attacked, one being killed and the 
other escaping. 



TROUBLES IN THE HORNSBY SETTLEMENT. 

Hornsby's on the Colorado, some ten miles below the 
present city of Austin, was one of the earliest, and outside, 
settlements in Austin's upper colony, and at this date con- 
sisted of the Hornsbys, Harrells and a few other brave 
families. 

In the spring of 1836, these families, escorted by Wil- 



* Wilbarger, p. 231. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



199 



liams, Hoggett and Cain, three young men detailed by Cap- 
tain Tomlinson, then in command of a small ranger force 
in that vicinity, fled like others, "before the Mexican army 
of invasion, toward the Sabine. On arriving at the old 
town of Nashville, they heard the glorious news of Santa 
Anna's defeat at San Jacinto, and at once returned to their 
homes, and to the tilling of their fields. ''They had) only 
been home a few days (says Wilbarger) when about ten 
o'clock one bright morning in the early part of May, 
while Williams and Hoggett were in one part of the field, 
hoeing and thinning corn, and the Hornsby boys and Cain 
were working in another portion, about one (hundred In- 
dians rode up to the fence near where Williams and) Hog- 
gett were at work, threw down the fence and marched in, 
bearing a wihite flag hoisted on a lance — the wily redskins 
thus throwing the young men off their guard. As they 
rode up, forming a circle, they shook hands with the two 
young men, and almost at the same moment commenced 
their bloody work, spearing one of them to death, and 
shooting the other dead as he attempted to flee." 

At this juncture the Hornshy boys, Billy, aged 19 ; Mal- 
colm, 17 ; Reuben, Jr., about twelve lyears of age, and the 
young man Cain, witnessing the attack upon, and fate of 
their two companions in the adjoining field, fled for the 
river bottom, crossed and went up the stream some dis- 
tance, re crossing about the present Burdett ford, and then 
traveled' down through the thicket brush of the bottom to 
within about a mile of their home, where they concealed 
themselves until after dark, when they cautiously ventured 
in — -expecting perhaps, to find their parents and oth- 
ers slaughtered, and the house plundered or burned. 
But the murderous fiends, "after riding around and firing 
off a few guns, had departed, carrying with them all the 
stock they could gather in the neighborhood," amount- 
ing to some seventy-five or one hundred head of cattle, 
some of which got loose from the Indians and came back 
(home about three weeks afterward. "The joyful meeting," 



200 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



continues Wilbarger, in tellirg cf the return of the five 
boys, "can better be imagined than described, for up to 
this time neither party knew what had been the fate of 
the other." 

In this same vicinity, in the fall, two other men were 
killed by the Indians. Blakely, Harris and one other, name 
now forgotten, came up from Webber's Prairie, some six or 
seven miles below, and stopped ever night at Hornsby's, 
leaving next morning to hunt for wild -stray cattle — "mav- 
ericks" — of which there were a great number ranging on 
the river at that time — common property and "free to who- 
ever might be lucky enough to kill them." Having crossed 
the river and entered the range, and just as Harris and the 
unknown man were ascending the bfcrk of a small ravine', 
tfhey were fired upon and killed. Blakely, who fortunately 
was some distance in the rear, wheeled, put spurs to his 
horse and succeeded in escapirg by fast riding. The mur- 
dered men were scalped and disemboweled, their entrails 
strewn upon bushes, their arms chopped off and hearts 
cut out. "Such," says Wilbarger, was the unsettled state of 
affairs in the Hornsby settlement in 1836; nor did the 
Indians cease their murders in this section for many years 
afterward, as late as 1845 — as will be shown further on. 



Note— The following letter from Hon. W. T. Davidson, 
(lately deceased) gives further details of the murder of 
his father and of Crouch, his ccmpanicD, by the Indians. 
The statements can be relied on as true. The letter follows: 

Belton, Texas, March 25, 1907. 

Mr. J. T. DeShields, 

Farmersville, Texas. 
Dear Sir: — At your request I send you a short account 
of the killing of Robert Davidson, my father, by the Coman- 
che Indians in 1836. Mr. Davidson was born in Kentucky 
on July 1, 1799. Married Rebecca Landis in Ohio in 1825; 
settled in Illinois and from there moved to Texas in 1838. 
First stopped in Burleson county on Davidson's Creek, near 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



201 



the present town of Caldwell, and set up the body of a log 
house, but never did finish it, and moved from there up to 
Nashville on the Brazos, and from there in the fall of 1834 
moved with his family up to the Three Forks of Little 
River, settled on his headright league of land, and built a 
log cabin in the bottom on the river bank, for protection 
against the Indians. In 1835 he cleared about four acres of 
land and put it in corn and pumpkins. The Indians having 
become so bold and troublesome, my father moved his fam- 
ily back to Nashville in the fall of 1835, but in the spring of 
1836, he went back to his home on Little River to plant a 
crop, but before he got through, Santa Anna had invaded 
Texas, butchered the defenders of the Alamo, and then the 
settlers having been notified by couriers, sent from Nash- 
ville up on Little River, to fall back to Nashville, as the 
country was being over-run by Mexicans and Indians. My 
father, Jasper Crouch, Gouldsby Childers, 0. T. Tyler, — — 
Shackelford, Jno. Beal, Jack Hopson, Ezekiel Robertson 
and probably two or three others, on receipt of this informa- 
tion, made immediate preparations to retreat in a body to 
Nashville. Their only vehicle was a w r agon to be drawn by 
a single pair of oxen. They had some horses but not 
enough to mount the entire party. On the morning of the 
first day they arrived at Henry Walker's on Walker's 
Creek, about 7 or 8 miles north of the present town of Camer- 
on. There they found Henry Walker, Campbell Smith and 

Monroe. On the next morning the party started on. 

their journey to Nashville, and father and Crouch concluded 
the party was out of danger from the Indians, and their 
families being down at Nashville, told the balance of the 
party they would go on ahead, and reach Nashville that 
evening, but they had got about 300 yards ahead of the maim 
party, when about 200 Indians, coming up in their rear, 
passed by the main party without making any halt, and 
pushed ahead and attacked my father and Crouch, who 
made a bold stand, but were both slain by the merciless 
savages, after losing on^ or two of their number. 



202 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



This occurrence took place in the month of March ac- 
cording to my recollection of the event; others say as late 
as June, 1836. 

My father had studied medicine before moving to Texas, 
and brought some valuable medical works with him, but not 
being sufficiently settled, he never practiced in this country. 
Jasper Crouch, who was killed with my father, was a Mis- 
sionary Baptist preacher, he and my father were close 
friends, and were both buried in the same grave on the 
prairie where they were slain about 7 or 8 miles north of the 
present town of Cameron. They were buried the next day 
by friends who came up from Nashville. Judge 0. T. Tyler 
and a few others performed the last sad rites. Years aften I 
went on the ground where m/ father and Crouch were mur- 
dered, for the purpose of finding their grave, if possible, 
that I might give them a more decent burial. The land hav- 
ing been put in cultivation, and all plowed over, I soon 
found that I would never be able to find it. So gave up the 
idea with a sad heart. I am the only member of the origi- 
nal Davidson family that moved to Texas in 1833, now liv- 
ing. And Mrs. 0. T. Tyler, Hon. Geo. W. Tyler's mother, 
is the only member of the original Childers family, left, 
and she is living in Belton, loved and respected by all. Rob- 
ert Childers after living a long; and useful life, died near 
Temple on his farm. 

Robert Childers related the following incident to me as 
having occurred on the first day's march of the party 
down to where they camped the first night: As the party in 
the wagon stayed close together, my father traveled near 
them trying to kill a deer for supper. Finally he succeeded, 
and when he overtook the party, he told them he had seen 
an Indian, when one of the party remarked, 4 'Davidson is 
scared!" Another one repliel, saying, "when Davidson 
gets scared, the rest of us had better look out." 

A few years after my father's death, my mother married 
L. M. H. Washington. There were three children by this 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



203 



marriage, namely, Elizabeth, Jennie and Annie, and all of 
them are still living and have interesting families. 

In 1846, my mother's family moved from Nashville to 
Austin, but after several changes, went back to her old 
home in Illinois to visit her brother, Fred Landis, who has 
two sons in Congress, and one a United States District Judge, 
in Chicago. My mother died very suddenly while on that 
visit, May, 1874, at Mt. Pulaski, 111., at the home of one of her 
nephews. 

Hoping you may be able to use this hastily prepared 
sketch of my father and his death, I remain, [ , 

Yours truly, 1 . 

W. T. Davidson. 



CHAPTER X. 



HE flow of events in Texas history has now 
reached into a distinctive era — that of the 
Lone Star Republic — and henceforward the 
affairs and destinies of Texas are under the 
guidance and control of its patriot fathers, 
who had heroically battled for and won this 
independence But many breakers were yet 
to be encountered. A predatory and menac- 
ing Indian warfare had now been carried 
on .for fifteen years — a strife but yet in the 
incipient stage and which was to increase in fierceness and 
bloody atrocity as the Republic's emboldened and increasing 
population expanded her borders, and pushed further into 
the Indian country. 



AFFAIRS OF STATE — INTERNAL MATTERS. 

At the first general election in the Republic, on Mon- 
day, the fiirst day of September 1836, Gen. Sam Houston was 
chosen President and Mirabeau B. Lamar, Vice President. 
The First Congress convened at Columbia, Oct. 3, and on 
the 22nd the President and Vice President-elect were inaug- 
urated. The Cabinet was composed of the following fa- 
mous and talented men: Stephen F. Austin, Secretary of 
State; Henry Smith, Secretary of the Treasury; Thos. J. 
Rusk, Secretary of War; S. Rhodes Fisher, Secretary of the 
Navy; James Pinekney Henderson, Attorney General; and 
Robert Barr, Postmaster General. 

Though the Texas Gongrtss at its first session in 1836 
refused to pass a resolutkm authorizing the liberation of 




BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



205 



Saint a, Anna, Presidlent Houston assumed the responsibility 
of discharging him from custody and sending him and Col. 
Almonte, to Washington, D. C, in charge of Gieonge W. 
Hockley, (Inspector General of the Texas army) and an 
escort consisting of Gen. Barnairdl E. Bee and Maj. W. H. 
Patton. 

Santa Anna left Texas in December, 1836 ; arrived in Wash- 
ington January 17, 1837, wher e he had an interview with! 
President Jacksion; later sailed from Norfolk, Va., for Vera 
Oruz, where he disembarked February 23, 1837; was de- 
feated in the Mexican presidential election March 1, 1837, 
and retired to his magnificent hacienda — Mango de Clavo. 

Santa Anna regained! popularity by his loss of a leg in 
an action at Vera Cruz during the blockade of that port by 
a French fleet in 1838. He was later elected President of 
Mexico. After the capture of the city of Mexico by Gen. 
Winfield Scott in the war of 1846-8, between the United 
States and Mexico, Siainta Ansa fled the country, and was 
subsequently formally banished. He returned in after years ; 
experienced a slight rise to favor; was again compelled 
to leave; and was finally permitted to return and end his 
days in Mexico. 

Although Mexico had repudiated Santa Anna's treaty 
andl declared she would never recognize Texas independ- 
ence, but little serious fears were entertained of a second 
invasion — for awhile at least. The invincible Texans had 
taugM the Mexicans a lesson not to be soon forgotten. But 
a more stubborn, cunning and determined foe was yet to be 
subdued and banished. 

Comanche chiefs are said to have visit e'd the seat of 
government in the latter part of January and had a friend- 
ly talk with President Houston.* If they did, they scarce- 



*It will be interesting to note in this connection the cheerful— but it proved erroneous 
—view, which the fiirst British Minister to the Republic of Texas— Jas. T. Crawford— writ- 
ing his government under date. May 29, 1837, entertained regarding Indian affairs in Texas 
* * * "Texas has several companies of Rangers on the various frontiers to check the In- 
dian tribes. These however, have but little cccupation, as the poliey of Gen. Houston haa 
been conciliatory and he has very lately entered into treaties with the most influential 
chiefs, who were at the 3eat of Government on a 'Big Talk' and returned well satisfied." 



206 , BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ly got back to their camps before they and their followers 
murdered in February, Hon. John G. Robinson, 
representative of Fayette county in the house of the First 
Texas Congress, his bipther, andi others — incidents that will 
be detailed in their proper sequence. 

March 1, 1837, W. H. Secrest,* living on the Colora- 
do, wrote to President Houston, telling of the murder of 
the Robinson's, Fortran and two children. In the course of 
the letter he says: "They are killing and stealing all of our 
stock, and! we can't help ourselves. Wc arc so favv in num- 
ber that we can't leave our homes 1 to rout them. I am here 
the same as both hands tied*— four women to guard' — so that 
I can't get out to see about them. If you can't do some- 
thing for us, we are in a bad situation and will be, no doubt 
some of our women and children massacred the next time 
you hear from us." 

The Independence of Texas was recognized by the 
United; States March 2, 1837 — the anniversary of its 1 declara- 
tion by the Plenary convention. 

"During the spring of 1837," says Yoakum, "a party of 
Mexicans visited all the Indian nations on itihe frontier, 
making to them the most seductive offers to induce them 
to make war on the Tex<ans. They premised them arms, am- 
munition, and the plunder and prisoners. — women and child- 
ren included) — taken during the war; also peaceable posses- 
sion of the country then held by them. At the siame time, 
these emissaries succeeded in persuading them that, if the 
Texans were successful in the war then pending between 
the latter and Mexico, they would) seize the country then oc- 
cupied by the different tribes, and drive them from the land 
of their fathers. Thus many of the prairie tribes were in- 
duced) to join the Mexicans." 

Maj. Le Grande, who was sent to have a talk with the 
Comanche Chief, Chiconie, reported him as saying that so 
long as he continued to see the gradual approach of the 



»Texag Archives— State Library. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 207 



"whites and their habitations to the hunting grounds of the 
Comanches, so long would he believe to be true what the 
Mexicans hiad told him, and so long would he comititriue to be 
the enemy of the white race. 

At the beginning of 1837 there was a small ranger force 
in the field. It was divided into detachments, which were 
established at the Falk of the Brazios., the Three Forks of 
Little River, Walnut Crepk, r nd the Trinity River. 

During the early part of the year, while there was no 
def actio Texas army, parties of cavalry under Wells, Seguin, 
Cook, Karnes, and Deaf Smith, rendered valuable service 
against the Indians' — Deaf Smith, on one occasion, scouting 
as far west as the Rio Grande and defeating a superior 
force of Mexicans and Indians. 

The appointment of Albert Sidney Johnston to the 
command of the Texas army, with the rank of senior Brig- 
adier-General, reduced Gen. Felix Huston from first to 
second place, and was followed by Huston challenging 
Johnston. In the duel that followed, Johnston was danger- 
ously, and for a time, it was thought, mortally, wounded. 

His wound incapacitating him for the discharge of the 
duties of the position, Gen. Johnston devolved the command 
of the army on Col. Rogers) May 7, and went to the United 
States to recuperate his health. On May 18, following, Presi- 
dent Houston furloughed all the army (a total of 1,800 or 
2,000 soldiers of all arms) except six hundred men, who, un- 
paid and ill-supplied, personneled the mere semblance of a mil- 
tary force, which soon dwindled almost to the vanishing 
point, owing to the men quitting the service as fast as they 
could. 

The First Congress reconvened May 1, 1837. It passed 
an net, approved June 12, 1837, providing for a corps of 
rangers, to consist of an aggregate of six hundred white 
men, and a spy company of Shawnee, Delaware or other 
friendly Indians. The act appropriated no money to carry 
its provisions into effect, hence it was inoperative, and re- 
mained so until the Second Congress passed an act, approv- 
ed December 28, 1837, appropriating $25,000 for the creation 



208 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



and maintenance of the corps. No protection resulted from 
the measure during 1837. 

The First Congress doubtless relied on the President be- 
ing able to negotiate at least some part tof the $5,000,000 
loan (or rather, ' ' borrow") he had been given authority 
to consummate in the United States. It leaned on a broken 
reed, with the usual result. The financial panic that con- 
vulsed the United States at that time rendered it impossible 
for anybody to secure ready money on even much better se- 
curity than Texas had to offer. 

One vessel of the Texas navy was captured after an en- 
gagement with a Mexican brig, and two other vessels 
foundered, leaving only one schooner in the service — 'and it 
was fit for, and only used as, a receiving ship. 

It was with the greatest difficulty that a ranging force 
was kept in the field. It could not have been maintained 
for a month, if the officres and men had been actuated by 
mercenary motives. 

The Mexican navy swept along the coast, and the In- 
dians met with but slight and inadequate resistance. 
Yoakum says, { 1 Every day or two during the year 1837, 
some murdered citizen or stolen property attested the hos- 
tile feeling of the Indians." 

On the first Monday in September an election was held, 
at which members of the house of Representatives and one- 
third of the Senators of the Second Congress were chosen. 
That body was convened in extra session by President 
Houston September 26, 1837, and enacted much important 
legislation — passing a land law (providing for opening the 
land office in 1838) and some other measures over the Pres- 
ident 's veto. The growing opposition to President Hous- 
ton's "stand-pat" policy with regard to hostilities with Mex- 
ico, and his policy of conciliation with regard, to the In- 
dians, became crystalized and was given expression to in the 
Second Congress. 

During the year, rumors of an invasion of Texas by 
Mexico, came near producing another "runaway scrape," 



HEROIC DEFENSE OF THE TAYLOR FAMILY-PAGE 137 




ERATH'S FIGHT WITH AN INDIAN — PAGE 221 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



209 



such as that of 1856. The only reason they did not, was be- 
cause the invasion did not occur. Texas was totally unpre- 
pared for not only offensive, but defensive measures. 

Gen. Houston believed that if treaties of peace were en- 
tered into with the Indians and they were dealt with kind- 
ly and justly, hostilities would cease, and the two races 
could and would live peaceably side by side. The de- 
fect in his reasoning was that the points of views, the 
habits, aims, desires, and real interests of the Indians and 
the white people, were radical and necessarily antagonistic, 
and it was beyond diplomacy or any other human power 
to harmonize them. War — continual war — ending in the sur- 
vival of the fittest — was inevitable and irrepressible, was 
perhaps, the only solution possible. Still, the motives that 
actuated him were philanthropic and noble. As means to the 
ends he had in View, he exerted himself to obtain treaties 
with various tribes. Congress co-operated with him 1 to the 
extent of passing an act providing that commissioners to the 
Indians should be paid five dollars a day for their services. 

September 14, 1837, Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk 
and Gen. K. H. Douglass issued written instructions* to 
Jesse Watkins to proceed, with Lewis Sanchez as interpre- 
ter, to the prairies and have a talk with the chiefs and head 
men of the Keechies, Caddos, Tonkawas and Ionies, with a 
view to making a treaty of amity and commerce with them. 
The letter of instructions directed him to tell them that "we 
are disposed to be at peace with all our red brethren; 
that we are disposed to break our long knives and bury our 
tomahawks with them, and to open a wide road between the 
house of the red and white man; that all that we shall re- 
quire of them will be to give up the prisoners they have of 
ours, to bring baek all of the property they have stolen, 
and not to murder and steal any more, and to prevent other 
Indians from doing so where they may know of it — to all 
of which, if they will agree, you may promise them that we 



♦Texas Archirea-State Library. 



210 , BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



will make a treaty of peace with them which shall last for- 
ever. 

" These presents which are furnished you, you may distrib- 
ute as you may think proper, and you may make such ar- 
rangements about the chiefs coming in as is most satisfactory 
to the Indians. We would like it well if they could be 
brought dk>wn to the seat of government; but, for fear that 
cannot be done, we will ask the President to nominate two 
Commissioners here who can treat with them and who will 
be furnished with the proper instructions. In your talk 
with them you will be careful not to promise them lands 
at any particular place ; and be cautious that you make no 
promise, however slight, that cannot be strictly complied 
with." 

Henry W. Karnes concluded a treaty of peace and com- 
merce with the Tonkawag at San Antonio, November 22, 
1837, under the terms of which Nathaniel Lewis was to "be 
trading agent among them and they were to buy articles 
from, and make sales to no other person. 

During the latter part of the* year Noah Smith wick iia- 
diuced 1 five Comanche chiefs to go with Mm to Houston, 
where some sort of agreement was entered into with them, 
but it was lived up t(o by neither party. 

Texas Indians considered themselves as the real lords 
of the soil under the old regime, and Spaniards and Mexi- 
cans as tenants at will. They regarded: the Anglo-Am- 
ericans as intruders, who were robbing them of that which 
was rightfully theirs. Indians from the United States who had 
effected lodgment in Texas believed they had rights which 
were being criminally trampled under foot by the white peo- 
ple. 

The white men on their part, did not recognize the right 
of savagery to pre-empt so beautiful and fertile a djomain m 
Texas, and unflinchingly demanded and conquered it, with the 
design that it should afford a theatre for the development of 
a high and splendid! civilizatiion that would bless all who 
participated in it, and contribute to the happiness of man- 
kind. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



211 



Furthermore, there were "tall Indians" and 1 "bad 
white men" who pouredl oil on the flames of warfare, every 
time they burned low, till tlie last tepee crumbled to ashes 
anld the last brave (nearly fifty years after the time cover- 
ed by this chapter) retreated from the confines of Texas, 
never more to return. 

The picture of 1837 as further revealed by history, 
is seen not to be made up solely of sombre colors. 

The seasons were remarkably propitious, and abundant 
cotton and food crops were raised. The cotton crop 
amounted to more than 50,000 bales and was sold for good 
prices. 

The Mexican ranch owners, who formerly dwelt be- 
tween the Nueces and Rio Grande, and who abandoned that 
region in 1836, left behind them immense herds of cattle. 
People living farther east "rounded up" and appropriated 
this stock, which gave them a good supply for breeding and 
other purposes — in some instancies, from two hundred to six 
hundred head to the cowboy.* 

The sale of lots on Galveston Island, (under authority 
of an act of Congress) resulted in the establishment and rap- 
id growth of the town of Galveston. A fine line of sailing 
packets was established between New York, New Orleans, 
and Texas. 

Congress, by the act of November 4, 1837, appropriated 
$280,000.00 for the establishment of a new Texas navy, to con- 
sist of six armed vessels — one ship, or brig, eighteen guns; 
two barques, twelve 'guns each; and three schooners, 
seven guns each. 

New counties and to wins W^re created. A stream of de- 
sirable immigration flowed steadily into Texas during the 
year, with augmenting volume; industrial enterprises were 
introdtueed in a small way and some of them successfully 
operated; the mechfanism of government was adjusted and 
set in motion; and the commonwealth girded itself for, and 



♦The term "cow-boy" is Baid to have been first used in Texas to designate these cat- 
tie hunters. 



212 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



started sturdily forward upon the high career it has since 
pursued. 

Tine shadows thiat lay upon the land, served but to 
heighten, thie beauty and add to the cheering effects of the 
sunshine that was mingled with them, and that rested upon 
it libe a benediction. 

Brave hearts and true, met the dangers and difficulties 
of the present unflinchingly, and pressed on to the future 
with confidtence and' enthusiasm. It was not a "phanitotnf of 
hope' 1 or "delusion of fancy' ' that led' them on, buit the 
Spirit of Progress, which had seleotedl them' for nation 
builders, and nerved them for and kept them at their task. 



MURDER OF THE GOTCHER FAMILY — CAPTURE OF 
MRS. CRAWFORD AND THREE CHILDREN. 

Among the valuable and prominent accessions to Austin's 
Colony, was 1 James Gotcher,* a native of Alabama, who emi- 
grated 1 in 1835, settling with 'his fiamily and sonnin-law, 
Cirawf ord, at a point on Rabb '& Creek, near th.e present town 
of Giddings, in Lee county. 

Erecting comfortable cabins, opencmg farms, and ac- 
cumulating ample and! increasing stocks of cattle, horses 
tand hcigis, these settlers were prosperous and happy. Other 
families seen located in the vicinity, and for a time all went 
well. But alas ! .they, too, were destined to meet a flat© — the 
common fatte befalling so many of the brave pioneers in the 
settling and reclaiming of Texas. 

On the same day, and by the same party of Indians who 
had murdered Congressman Robinscn and his brother, the 
Goftcber home was 1 attacked. At the time, Mr. Gotcher, with 
one son, and Crawford, were away, cutting and hauldnig wood 
from the bottom. The Indians approached the house in two 
parties, one of which came upon a little son and daughter of 



♦ Gotier, pronounced Gotcher by Texans of that day. and so spelled in some accounts. 
Ers route from the lower colony, they first marked, and afterwards cut out, the trail or road 
since known as the "Gotcher Trace"— once much traveled. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



213 



Mr. Goteher near the dwelling, killing and scalping the boy, 
and making a prisoner of the little girl. In the house were 
Mrs. Nancy Goteher, her majried daughter, Mrs. Jame 
Crawford, and several children. Seeing that they had only tx> 
contend with women smd children, the Indian® disregarded 
their usual mod© of attack* arid rushed' directly upon the 
eaoin, expecting to meet with little or no resistance. They 
were mistaken in their calculations. Both the women) in- 
side, seized the few guns that were there, and. discharged 
them, one after another, into the midst of the yelling mass 
of assailants. There was no time to reload. The siavages 
burst into the room, and tone of them, armed with a gun, shot 
and! killed Mrs. Goteher, whose body was already dotted 
with arrows that had been fired into it. Mrs. Crawford was 
overpowered and she and her two children (one of them two 
months old) were made captives. A little son of Mr. Goteh- 
er attempted to make has escape but was seized, as he turned 
the corner of the house, by an Indian. He caught one of the 
Indian's thumbs in his mouth and bit it until the warrior 
forced Mm to let go "try beating him with a ramrod. 

Mr. Goteher, and) has: son, and Crawford, ran to the 
house when they heard the firing • but in the excitement of 
the moment forgot to bring their guns with them! from the 
woods. They arrived upon the scene while the tragedy was 
being enacted. There was neither time nor opportunity for 
them to return fior their weapons, their dear ones were be- 
ing murdered, or taken prisoners, and were appealing to 
them for succor. 

They made a bold and desperate dash for the house, in- 
tending to secure the guns there, and make battle. The 
chance was not only a forlorn, but a hopeless one, and fight- 
ing gallantly as best they coald, they .soon fell beneathi the 
fire and spear thrusts of the Indiaais, before going many 
stefps. T!he son fought desperately, almost amputating the 
thiroat of a warrior with has teeth. Another son, after be- 
itogi mortally wounded, crawled' to a elum<p of trees, unob- 
served, pillowed his head; on a rock, and expired. Thus the 



214 | BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



bloody tragedy was soon over. The Gotcher home, being 
somewhat isolated, the occurrence was not known for siome 
days later when casually visited by Gen. Ed. Burleson, too 
late for successful pursuit of the Indians. 

But the news soon spread far and near, filling every 
heart with indignation and horror. "This," says Wilbar- 
ger, who furnishes the only details of the horrible affair, 
"was indeed one of the bGoodiest tragedies that had ever oc- 
curred up to that time in the settlement. A father, wife, son 
and son-in-law and two children, lajy cold in dteath, and 
mingled together their kindred blood, where but a few hours 
previously, they had assembled in fancied security, within 
the walls of their once happy home." 

But, gentle reader, the sad story stops not here. After 
plundering the house arod mutilating their victims, the fiend- 
ish murderers departed, carrying as captives, Mrs. Crawford; 
her two children and the little daughter of Mrs. Gotcher. 
They suff ered, as the prisoners of Indians usually did, all the 
hardships and indignities their barbarous captors could in- 
flict. 

The Indians, annoyed by the crying of Mrs. Crawford's 
two months old babe, threw it into a deep pool, tjo drown. 
Hhe desperate mother plunged into the water, seized the 
child, and swam with it toj the bank. Again and again they 
seized and tossed it back, land as often the determined moth- 
er rescued her child. For a time this was sport for the cruel 
fiends, but tiring of their deviltry,, a brave lifted the child 
in hds hands and 1 bending back its head, told a companion to 
cut its throat. As the knife was raised, and the diabolical 
deed about to be consummated, the frantic mother felled the 
fiend with a billet of wood. As the Indian lay motion- 
less at her feet, as a result of the blow she had dealt him, 
she expected only death as her fate. But instead, the In- 
dians merely laughed at their fallen comrade, anld expressed 
much admiration for her bravery, and now returned the 
child, saying, "Squaw too much brave. Damn you, take 
your papoose and carry it yourself — we will not do it." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



215 



After a captivity K>f two or three years, during w&dch 
time Mrs. Crawford was subjected to the most shameful 
treatment, she and the children were brought into Holland 
Coffee's trading house on Red River. Here Mr. Spaulding, 
a trader, formed an attachment for the unfortunate lady and 
purchased' the captives — the ranscim being 400 yiards of cali- 
co, a large number of blankets, a quantity of beads, and 
some other articles. Mr. Spamlding married the widow and 
brought them all back to Bastrop country. Children born of 
this union yet survive in Texas. 



LIEUT. WREN S FIGHT. 

Early in the spring of this year, Lieut. Wren with a de- 
tachment of fifteen rangers from Coleman's Fort, attacked 
and defeated a party of Comanche warriors near the site 
Of the present city of Ausltin. They were surprised in their 
camp just at daylight, and one of their number killed by Joe 
Weeks, at the first fire. The Indians tcok shelter in a ra- 
vine and fought bravely, but the rangers rapidly moved 
down upon them, pouring in a heavy fire which caused the 
enemy to scatter and seek safety in the adjoining cedar- 
brakes^ — leaving their camp equipage and a caballado of 
stolen horses to the whites. But the joy of the victory was 
saddened by the loss of one of the rangers, Phillip Martin, 
who was shot in the mouth and instantly killed. 



MURDER OF CONGRESSMAN ROBINSON AND HIS 
BROTHER. 

In February of this year a party of thirty or forty Com- 
anche Indians came down into Fayette county on a horse 
stealing expedition, and on their way out, met and murdered 
the Hon. John G. Robinson and his youthful brother, Wal- 
ter * 



*Neal Robinson, of Fayette eounty, son of Joel W. Robinson (or Robison) says tha 
f amly have always spelled the name Robison. It appears as Robinson in the recollections 
of his father in Vol. 6, of the Texas Historial Association 'Quarterly, and as it is more fa- 



216 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



Judlge Robinsc© was one of Austin's colonists, coming 
in 1831, and settling en 'his beadrighft league, on Cumimings 
Creek within the present limits of Fayette county. He was 
an educated gentleman, filling valuable positions, and; his 
c7ea-th was greatly deplored. At the time of his deatfti, he 
was a member of the First Congress of the Republic, which 
convened at Columbia, in the fall of 1836. 

During the session he bought a supply of groceries and 
sent them to a house of a Mr. Stevens, a neighbor living 
some five miles south of his home. 

In February, 1837, soota after his return from Columbia, 
Judge Robinson and his brother went with a team to bring 
home the supplies. They were to stay over night with Stev- 
ens, and no uneasiness was felt by the family till the next 
morning, when it became known that Indians had visited 
the settlement. We quote details as given by* the son. Joel 
W. Robinson: — * * 4 'At that time I was at my father's on 
a visit — my residence being at Washington on the Brazos. 
Very early in the morning after father left home, I started 
down to Mr. Breeding's about eight miles below on Cum- 
min'gs Creek, purposing to go thence to Washington. When 
I arrived at Breeding's, I learned that the night before, the 
Indians had stokm all his horses. Knowing that my father 
and umcle intended starting h,ome early that monning, and 
that they were unaranjed, I was instantly siezed with a pre- 
sentiment that the Indians would fall in with and murder 
them. I retflimed as speedily as possible to my mother and 
told the news. She was very uneasy. It was about noon. 
I armed myself and proceeded on the road toward Stevens '. 
I had scarcely gone a mile, when, in the open post oak woods 
I found my father's cart and oxen standing in the road. 
The groceries were also in the cart. But neither father nor 



miliar to Texas readers in that form, it is not altered to the correct spelling in this article. 
Joel W. Robinson was one of the men who captured Santa Anna after the battle of San 
Jacinto, and prior to and subsequent to that time, took part in many expeditions against 
the Indians. Both he and his father participated in the attacks upon and capture of the 
Mexican fort at Valaseo in 1832. He also took part in the storming and capture of San 
Antonio in December, 1835, under Milam and Johnson. The family came to Texas from 
Georgia in 1831. 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



217 



uncle were there. I had now no doubt of their fate. The 
conviction that they were murdered shot into my heart like 
a thunder bolt. Riding cm a few yards further I discovered 
buzzards collecting near the road. My approach seared 
them away and revealed to my sight the body of my father, 
nude, scalped and mutilated. I dismounted and sat down by 
the body. After recovering a little from the shock 1 I looked 
around for uncle. I found his body, also stripped, scalped 
and mangled, about fittty yards from my father's remains. 
His body was small and ligiht and I carried it and laid it by 
the side of my father. The vulture*, in black groups, were 
perched on the trees around, and I knew they would quick- 
ly devour the bodies if I left them exposed. I covered them 
with a coat and saddle blanket and piled brush upon them. 
I i then hurried back with the woeful news to my aged mother/* 
* * * And as this narrative closes, we leave the reader to 
picture the pathetic, heart-rending, scene between that sud- 
denly widowed mother and orphaned son. 



LITTLE RIVER FORT.— ERATH 'S FAMOUS FIGHT. 

Late in 1836, in accordance with a previously agreed plan 
looking to the special protection of Robertson's Colony, Capt. 
Cokman, in command of ranger forces, proceeded to locate 
a block house station or log fort about the " Three Forks" of 
Little River. Lieut. George B.Erath was detailed with a 
small force to erect the buildings and to protect that point. 
Of the thrilling events that soon occurred, Erath himself, 
tells in a graphic narrative prepared expressly for this work: 
"On returning from the army after the battle of San Jacinto, 
I became attached immediately to Robertson's company oper- 
ating against the Indians, and in July was transfered to 
Capt. Hill's company operating between the Brazos and Col- 
orado — participating on an engagement on the Yegua in Au- 
gust. On the first of October I enlisted in a corps of rangers 
then commanded by Col. Coleman, serving as lieutenant ma- 
dfr Captain Barren. I may here mention that the men in 



218 : BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



this service were promised 1280 acres of land, which they re- 
ceived, and $25.00 a montih, which was paid after a time, in 
■depreciated currency — Texas 'red backs. ' The men were 
to be furnished' with rations of every kind. This was gener- 
ally a failure, though the government furnished us ammuni- 
tion to kill game with, which was our principal support. The 
First Congress passed a law authorizing the raising of five 
companies, who were to provide their own horses and arms, 
t>ut be furnished everything else. About half the mem had 
horses, and some bald very poor guns, borrowed or pressed 
from citizens. Those of us who had horses performed by far, 
the greater part of the service, but there was no distinction 
in pay, or in rations. 

"In the early part of November, 1836, I was placed in 
command of a few over twenty men detached from Barren's 
company, and stationed at a point on the Leon about one 
mile from what is known as the 'Three Forks' of Little 
River — having cut out, marked and measured, a road from 
the Falls of the Brazos to that place. Col. Coleman, wnho had 
accompanied us with a few men, after planning for improve- 
ments, left, measuring and working a road to his fort on 
"Walnut Creek, about six miles east of where Austin now 
stands and about eight miles above Hornsby's, the highest 
settlement on the Colorado. 

"Settlements had been attempted in the surrounding 
country the winter before, and here and there patches of 
corn were planted in the spring, mostly without fence, and 
by a prolific season, some corn, not eaten by the buffalo or 
wild stock, matured. Thus I was enabled to procure a few 
bags of corn, whicb I issued to my men — a 'nubbin' a day; 
a^Jd which had to be ground on a steel hand mill to be made 
into bread'. For meat, we depended on wilki game — then 
plentiful — while honey was obtained from numerous 'bee 
trees,' and kept in rawhide or deerskin sacks, made with the 
.hair outside. Coffee was scarce and used sparingly. 

"The details of operations up to Christmas, are unimpor- 
tant. By that time I had up seven or eight houses, well cov- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



219 



ered, with wooden chimneys* to them; buffalo robes for car- 
pets or floors. One of the soldiers — Collins — having a fami- 
ly, had one of the caibins to himself, and Gouldsby Childers, 
a settler, with his family, 'occupied another. Thus we were 
not idle, besides my men had to dress deerskins to make 
themselves clothes, especially moccasins. 

"And now to the operations. As already alluded to, Con- 
gress reorganized the ranger corps. Most of the old officers 
were retained, new ones added, and some of the inferiors pro- 
moted. The commander, Ool. Coleman, was deposed by Gen. 
Houston and Major Smith appointed — the effect of which 
took place about Christmas. Lieut. Curtis was sent to Little 
River Fort about that time to take command, with orders for 
me to hold myself in readiness at any moment to proceed 
(under additional special orders to be sent) to Colorado 
Fort (Coleman's Fort) to inaugurate the new system and 
notify Col. Coleman to depart. This new and special order 
did not arrive till the 4£h of January, 1837, when it was de- 
livered by Lieut. MeLocthlin. But the information of great- 
est consequence he brought, was that he had seen the tracks 
of some dozen Indians on foot, going down the country about 
twelve miles from the fort, on the waters of Elm Creek. All 
was now excitement and bustle in quarters, as we determined 
to intercept and prevent these Indians reaching the settW- 
ment below and doing mischief. Lieut. Curtis, now proper- 
ly in command and ranking officer, refused to make pursuit 
and at first objected to the horses being used — suggesting 
that I proceed with eight or ten men on foot. During the 
night, a cold rain set in and continued with heavy down- 
pour through the next day. Finally, arrangements having 
been made, about 10 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, we 
left on the scout. My force consisted of fourteen men, rank 
and file: Sergeant McLochlia, and rangers, Lee R. Davis, 
Daniel Clark, (an elderly man) Empson Thompson, Jack 
Gross, Robert Childers, and his boy brother, Frank, Jack 
Houston (volunteers) John Folks, Lewis and Maurice Moore, 
Green McCoy— the three latter also, were mere, boys — and 



220 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS* 



Leishly, a prospector. Four of our number had never been 
in battle before. Besides, four young men from the settle- 
ments below, whose parents had lived in the vicinity before 
the 'runaway scrape* in 1836, and who had been sent back 
to look after stock and! other property that had been left be- 
hind, -decided to accompany us so far as we traveled in the 
direction of their homes at Nashville, some sixty mile® below 
— but my course soon deflecting they parted company and 
continued alone. 

The trail was soon struck — <4 buit behold!" continues 
Erath, ' * instead of a dozen Indians, signs showed nearer one 
hundred, all on foot and leading toward the settlements be- 
low. Following for two or three miles, we came to their 
eamp of the previous day and night, antd! where tJhey had 
constructed! temporary brush and grass shelters from the 
rain. The signs were fresh) — the camp fires still burning. 
The moccasin tracks: were numerous — enough to deter the 
bravest, but we pushed! on. Indians, and Indian hunters 
can tell by the cast of tlhe moccasin soles to what tribe the 
wearer belongs, but not possessing that experience we were 
compelled to advance without knowing whether we were to 
encounter prairie tribes warriors with bows and lances or 
Caddos and other semi-civilized Indians armed with rifles — 
all brave and expert marksmen." 

At nightfall the little force haltled in close proximity to 
the enemy, whose position they re conn ottered. The Indians 
were encamped in a small horse-shoe like bend, some 
twenty three miles east of the fort and within about 
eight miles of a small settlement near the priesient town of 
Cameron, in Milam county. Resting till four in the morning, 
the horses were saddled, and tied to trees — ready to mount 
in ease of retrieat — mdi the men advanced afoot under cover 
of the creek bank. 

As the Indians arose and commenced! to build) fires, 
Erath shifted his forces to a position within twenrty five 
yards of the foe, and as soon as it was* light enough to see 
sights on guns, delivered a well aimed volley, which tumbled 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



221 



eight or ten redskins t(o the ground — some of them falling 
into the fires. The Indians were taken completely by sur- 
prise and were thrown into confusion. Had the whites been 
suppliedj with repeating arms, (then unknown) they could 
have charged and. kept the enemy on the run. As it was, how 
ever, they had to stop and re-load their pieces by the slow, 
old time process. This delay enabled the savages to recover 
in a measure, from their consternation. Some of them leap- 
ed behind trees and returned the fire, while others mofved to 
the right and left flank to positions where they could look in- 
to the creek bottom, see the numerical strength of the 
whites, and enfilade them. 

The engagement now became desperate, the enemy be- 
ing Caddos, all well armed, mostly with rifles. David Clark 
and Frank Ohilders were mortally wounded, and) all being 
greatly exposed, now shifted! to the opposite bank and] the 
protection of some small trees — Erath remaining behind to 
watch movements. He says: "As the men got posted, the 
Indians eame charging with a terrific yelL I retreated to 
the other side of the creek channel, but found myself under 
a steep bank six or eight feet high. The Indians jumped 
down the bank of the creek. One had his gun within a few 
feet of me, and fired, but missed me. I could not miss him,* 
and he fell right before me. This caused' the others to 
dodge back a few feet behind trees." 

As the Indians continued 1 to advance, and fire in com- 
bined force, Erath ordered a retreat. This was successfully 
accomplished by alternation— one half the men covering the 
retreat of the other half for thirty or forty yards at a 
time, so that half .of the guns were alternately loaded and 
fired. In this way, and favored somewhat by a number of 
elm trees and saplings, the men reached their horses at the 
edge of the prairie. In the retreat, a number of narrow es- 
capes and thrilling adventures occurred. Continues Erath: 



»It ia vouched for by hia own men that at the report of his gun, Erath fell, but im- 
mediately arose to his feet. A ranger cried "George, are you hurt"? "No I'iah not hurt; 
my gun knocks down before and behind"! 



222 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



"At this juncture my left had reached the bank of the gul- 
ly we had just descended into. There was a big thicket on 
the other side. The Indians charged us with great furjv amd 
terrific yells. We could not be blamed for seeking shelter, 
but it extended my line, and; seeing Indians on my right 
dashing up to us, McLoeMin and myself took to a big tree 
standing on the extreme right. McLoehlin presented his 
gun, but it was broken and would not fire. I haid my gun 
loaded and! took aim at a bunch of Indians close by, who 
were maneuvering obliquely, but advancing. I had no time 
to see the effect of my shot, but ran to another thicket 
with McLoeMin, (the Indiana getting between us and the other 
men and keeping up their yelling. Fifteen or twenty steps 
more, we reached the ravine that went square up the creek. 
Here we found Clark going up the bed of it, just about ex- 
hausted and' sinking. He said somthing about fighting to 
the last or we would all be killed. 

"I halted) a few moments with poor Clark, who was now 
down and his; life fast ebbing, but as half a dozen Indians 
were rushing towards us, I continued 1 on up the gully, re- 
loading my gun as I went, and soon rejoined my men.'' 

On reaching Clark, the Indians yelled and danced 
aromnd in great glee, butchering up their unfortunate vic- 
tim in a horrible manner. But they never found poor Frank 
Childers, who, unable to join in the retreat, had sank down 
at the foot of a tree in a secluded spot, and expired within 
twenty steps of where the hottest of the fight had.been going 
on. 

Fortunately, the Indians made no further attack and 
soon collected at their camp, where they set up a terrible 
bowl over their dead. "I knew they would soon leave/' 
continues Erath, "and proposed that we remain and look af- 
ter our dead, but I could not blame my men for refusing- 
several of them then told me that but for impeachment for 
cowardice and insubordination, they never would have gone 
into the affair. " 

Erath 's reason for making the attack agaimst such 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



223 



fearful odds, was that he and his me!n were employed to 
protect the citizens. "But for iim engagement, this large 
body of Indians would very soon have been in the settle- 
ments below, killing, burning and stealing; for they never 
came down in such large number® inj those days, without 
desperate ends in view." 

The rangers now returned to the fort and reported. 
Erath, on the following 1 morning, Sunday, leaving under 
previous orders, for Coleman's Fort — never again visiting' 
the scene of his hard fought battle. A burial party of fif- 
teen, sent out under Sergeant McLochlin on the 8th, failed 
to find Childers, and his remains were not discovered till 
eight days later. 

Summed up, the casual-it ies of this engagement, were 
the loss of two gallant rangers, while according to their own 
admission, later, the Indians lost ten warriors whom they 
carried: about a mile from the field and threw into a 
big hole of water. There were several narrow escapes 
during the action — some of tlhe men receiving slight 
wounds, and balls cutting the clothes of nearly every one. 
Sergeant McLochlin seems to have been a special mark — 
©aae ball breaking hds ramrod, another the lock of his gun, a 
third bursting his powder horn, a fourth passing through 
his coat, and a fifth through; the handkerchief worn as a 
turban on his head. 

Tthe news of this engagement with such a large body 
of marauding Indians, so near the settlements, caused gener- 
al consternation and alarm, and preparations were rapidly 
mtade for pursuit by a combined force from the forts, under 
Smith'. But a very heavy and severe snow storm and sleet 
set in on January 9th, delaying and preventing further op- 
erations. 



KILLING OF THE FAULKENBURYS AND ANDERSON — 
NARROW ESCAPE OF AN G LIN 

Members of the dispersed Parker Fort Colony were soon 
to suffer further trials and to meet sad fates at the hands of 



224 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



Indians. On January, 28, 1837, Abraham Anglin, David and 
Evan Faulkenbury, James Hunter, Anderson and Douthit 
lefit Fort Houston for the Trinity bottom in search of Gray- 
ed hogs . Finding some on the east side, they sent tihem 
baek by Hmnter and Douthit, who promised to return the 
next day and bring a canoe in which to cross the river. Be- 
coming impatient, the remaining party improvised a log 
raft, crossed -over, amdi after spending the forenoon in un- 
successful search, returned! t»o the river to await their com- 
panions with the canoe. 

We give the sequel in Mr. Anglin 's own language:* 
"To our surprise we found plenty of fresh moccasin tracks 
along the margin of the river, but supposing themi to have 
been made by friendliy Indians known to frequent that vic- 
inity, soon diismissedl any apprehensions of danger. Being 
much fatigued and 1 chilled, we sought shelter from the wind 
beneath the river bank and lay down to rest, falling asleep. 
But they were soon aroused by the war whoops and firing 
of a party of about thirty diastardly red skins, who had crept 
up within fifteen feet of them, and opened/ fire with rifles 
and bows and arrows. David Faulkenbury and Anderson 
were mortally wounded, but both leaped to their feet, and 
plunged into the river — Faulkenbury exclaiming, 'Come 
on boys, its time to go/ — and swam across." As Anglin 
arose to his feet, he received a gun shot in the thigh, the 
ball passing through his powder horn ^and i burying part of 
the horn in his flesh. He said Evan Faulkenbury sought pro- 
tection behind tre<s, and the Indians behind a bluff. Seeing 
the enemy were more advantageously posted, ard with no 
hope of dislodging them, Anglin, throwing his gun in, took 
to the river. "As I was swimming, ' ' continues Anglin ? s nar- 
rative, "the Indians were discharging their arrows, and 
while climbing out on the opposite bank, I received several 
other slight wounds. Weak and exhausted), however, as I 
was, I reached the bank, where I found David Faulkenbury 
too badly wounded to travel. He told me to escape if I 



♦ Abraham Anglin. in Groesbeck Argus. 



WALTER P. LANE RESCUES EUCLID M. COX-PAGE 251 



ROBIN ETT KILLING CHIEF BUFFALO HUMP-PAGE 284 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



225 



could, and hasten back relief. Poor fellow, I knew he would 
soon be gone, but I did licit know that I would survive him 
long. Fortunately, on going 1 about four hundred yards, I 
met Hunter returning with the canJoe, and mounting behind 
him, we rode as rapidly as possible for the fort." 

A relief party was soon made up and started' out that 
night. They found David Faulk enbury^—fouit dead. He had 
cut the long grass near a pool of water, and made a bed 1 on 
which to die. Some two miles from the scene of attack, they 
found 1 the lifeless 1 body of Anderson, with two arrows stick- 
ing through his neck. He had run that distance after 
swimming the river, and fell dead. Evan Faulkenbury's 
footprints were traced from the tree behind which he had 
last fought, to the river and down the bank a short dis- 
tance to where tftiey disappeared. The stream was sounded 
for his body, but it was not found and nothing more was ev- 
er heard of him, except an Indian tale — that he fought like 
a demon, killing two of his assailants, wounded. 1 a third, and 
when scalped and almost cloven asunder, jerked away from 
them, threw himself into the rher and swam as far as mid- 
stream, wfaere hie sank from view. 

Anglin recovered from his wounds aaid lived to partici- 
pate in other conflicts with the redskins, joining a ranger 
force m March of this year. He was a native of Kentucky, 
born Dec. 28, 1817, and emigrated with his parents to Illi- 
nois in 1818 ; thence, in 1833. with the Parker family, to Tex- 
as. He long resided in the vicinity of Fort Houston and 
Parker's Fort, leading an honorable and useful life till hi3 
death in 1875 or 1876. 



1 TRAGIC DEATH OF JAMES CORYELL. 

Numerous fancy sketches — all more or less unreliable — 
of this noted frontiersman ?nd his tragic death, have been 
given the public from time to time. We give the facts as 
narrated by one from personal knowledge — says pioneer 
Newton C. Duncan: 



226 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



" James Coryell, for whom Coryell county was named, 
came to Texas in 1828 or 1829 from Ohio, coming down 
the Ohio and Mississippi River to New Orleans, from 
there to the mouth of the Brazos and on to San Antonio. 
' fie remained at San Antonio some time, and the next I knew 
of him he had joined a company under Bowie, going to 
hunt the silver mines at San Saba. This I think wais in 
3831, Coming back from this trip he stayed in San Antonio 
awh*'e, then he came to that part of Robertson's Colony, 
near where the town of Marlin now stands. While staying 
in that part of Texas he made his home with the family of 
Mr. Andrew Cavitt (father of Mr. Volney Cavitt). In 1835 
Mr. Coryell went with Mr. Cavitt and they located the land 
still owned by the Cavitts in Coryell county, also locating 
land for Mr. Coryell on what is now Coryell Creek. 

4 * After this, in the fail of 1836, Mr. Coryell joined a com- 
pany of soldiers under Capt. Thomas H. Barron. I knew him 
personally at thiat time, having come with my mother from 
Tennessee im the early part of 1836. 

' ' The Indians had troubled us so much that we had all 
gone into Robertson's headquarters at Viesca. While here, 
Coryell, with some companions, had gone about half a mile 
on the road to Perry Springs, on what is now Perry 's Creek, 
where there lived a lawyer named Judge Albert G. Perry. 
Here they had found audi cut a bee tree and were sitting 
around eating the honey andl talking. Mr. Coryelfl. had told 
the other men thlat he could not run, if the Indians came, 
as he had been sick and wafe not able to run. Dm a short 
time they heard a noise as of sticks breaking, when they 
looked and saw twelve Qadldk) Indians right near them, too 
near for them to try to get away. Mr. CoryelH rose to his 
feet. One of the guns in the party wias empty, one failed 
to fire, and, als there were only three guns in the party, Cory- 
ell's was the only one left. The men who had no guns ran. 
Three of the Indians took aim at Coryell and he fired 
at the 4same time. Coryell fell grasping some bushes and 
puLing the tops off ae he fell. He was scalped' b|y the In- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



227 



dians, tout it is thought he wounded one of them, as th$ 
feathers from his cap were found, also some blood. Mr. Ber- 
ry, an oild friend of Gory ell's, stood and snapped his gun, 
trying to fire, until he Slaw the Indians pull Coryell down 
and begin to scalp him, then Berry ran and escaped, Coryell 
being the only one of the party killed. This party consist- 
ed of James Coryell, Sam Burton, Mr. Berry, Michael Gas- 
tleman, Ezra Webb and one other, whose name I do not re- 
member. 

"Ezra Webb was the first one of the party to reach the 
settlement. Coming to the house of Oapt. Barron he found 
a crowd ro£ ladies gathered awaiting the orders of Capt. Bar- 
ron, as they were expecting to be ordered to the block-house 
for protection. When Webb ran in with great haste and 
fright, and breathless from his run, he fell on the bed, past 
speaking. The ladies gathered around, anxious to know what 
had happened. After a little time he was- able to whisper 
' Indians ! Poor Coryell ! ' 

"Coryell was truly a frontiersman — an excellent woods- 
man, an agreeable companion, a brave soldier, and an admir- 
able gentleman — beloved by all who knew him. At the time 
of his death he was forty years old. A short time before 
his death, while out on a scout, he explored a region of 
country now known as Coryell county, and being a man of 
acute judgment, was struck with the beauty and eligibility 
of the country near the mouth of Coryell Creek. He there 
selected his head-right of one quarter of a league which 
was located after his death by his executor and thus gave 
his name to that stream. So far as I know Mr. Volney 
Cavitt and I are the only two men now living who knew 
Coryell in 1837".* 

At this: time Erath, with his little company, had been 
withdrawn from the Little River fort, and stationed, with 
other forces, at the Falls of the Brazos, where it was deem- 
ed advisable to concentrate all the rangers in that section, as 



» Paper read at Reunion of Old Settlers, Belton, TexaB, Sept. 4, 1903. 



228 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



they could be m/ore advantageously utilized against the num- 
ertus bands of Indians then constantly raiding' that section 
of country. At that time, however, Capt. Erathi and most 
of his men were absent on a scout west of Little River — all 
*hs rangers being out on scouts— ^nd thus the Indians who 
fell upon Coryel/1 effected thieir retreat without pursuit. 



CAPTURE OF WARREN LIONS. — SKIRMISH BETWEEN 
SETTLERS AND INDIANS. — RECLAIMING THE 
CAPTIVE. — TRUE ACCOUNT OP THIS 
! NOTED EPEISODE. 

Late it* 1837, LalGrange, on the Colorado, was an out- 
post, Bast nop being the only settlement above. Northeast 
and west to the Guadalupe the country was still an unbrok- 
&*> wilderness, Southwest from LaGrangje, some sixtaeai 
miles, and near the present line of the Sunset railway, lived 
the Lions family — early emigrants to Austin '& Colony from 
New York State — consisting of the father, mother, a married 
daughter (Mrs. Wm. B. Bridges) and four sons Seymour, 
George, DeVfitt and Warren, a boy thirteen years old. Some 
twenty miles further to the southwest, on the same road, from 
LaGramge to Texana amid Victoria, and ini the vicinity of 
the presetnt town of Hallettsville, there were a number of set- 
tiers near th<e Lavaca, amomg them the names of Hallett Fo- 
ley, Zumiwalt, Heath, Kent and Jesse RobitnsKm — comrades in 
arms and aoWnture of Capt. Henry S. Brown in 1828- '9. 

In the summer of this year a raiding party of about 
thirty Comanebes, were disfeovered m the vicinity, descend- 
ing from the mountains on their usual route toward Victo- 
ria, their trail being some fifteen miles west olf the Lavaca 
settlement. The alarm spread, and a party of 12 or 15 was 
hastily made up, without any leader, who struck and follow- 
ed the Indians' trail. In a very few miles, on the waters of 
Little Brushy, perhaps twenty miles southwest of Halle tts- 
ville, and in ani open forest, they suddenly came upon the 
savages, who had camped, "staking out'' some of their 
hoises and "hobbling*" others. It was raining at the time, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



229 



and henee their approaeli was undiscovered! tall Hhiey cbarg- 
ed with a view of stampeding the Indians ' horses. "With jtheir 
bowie-knives' some of the party cut the ropes by which some 
o^ the horses 1 were staked, while others sought to secure the 
hobbled animals. But the Indians outnumbering their assail- 
ants two to one, soon rallied) and charged furiously to re- 
cover thedir horses. Against odds, and in the absence of a 
leader, confusion ensued. Two or three Indians were wound- 
ed, and Stiffier killed. The whites effected a retreat with a 
few of the horses, but the Indians followed them in, and at 
Zumwalt's recaptured a portion of the animals during the 
night. 

While admittedly suffering defeat, the settlers at least 
prevented an intended raid on Victoria. But the Indians, 
somewhat emboldened, sought another field for their opera- 
tions. Deflecting to the northeast and rapidly covering the 
intervening distance of about forty miles, they suddenly ap- 
peared just after daylight at the Lions place, Mr. Lions 
and his son Warren having arose and entered the cow-pen 
to milk, while other members of the family were yet in bed. 
In a moment they killed and scalped the father, made eajp- 
tive the son, andl gathering up a number of horses belonging 
to Mr. Lions, left for their mountain fastnesses. 

Ten long years rolled by and beyond vague, unreliable, 
rumors, no tdJdimgs were received of the lost boy. Relatives 
and friends gave him ujp and mourned him as one forever 
lost to civilization, perhaps dead — all but the hoping and 
praving mother. She "dreamed dreams" and had visions of 
her darling baby child, and ever -believed) he would come 
back to her — believing that Providence, m some way would 
restore her treasure. 

In 1847, pending rtihe Mexican war, a party of Coman- 
ches appeared at San Antjonio on a trading expedition. It 
leaked out <tihat among tkem was a young warrior, believed 
to be an American. Two near neighbors of Mrs. Lions hap- 
pened to be in San Antonio, and hearing of this rumor, deter- 
mined to investigate the matter. In tfoe young warrdosr of 



230: 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



twenty-three they found such a resemblance to the Lions 
blethers as <to convince them he was Warren Lions. An in- 
terview through an interpreter soon removed! all doubt. 
They resolved, if possible, to take him home, but this.requir- 
ed several days and much diplomacy. Warren well remem- 
bered his mother, but believed she was dead. He had two 
young wives and dad not wish to leave them. Numerous 
presents were made to him, but still he remained obdurate 
till about the third day when his consent was won by a 
present of two very fine red blankets 1 — one for each wife, 
with which he adorned them with the pride of a true knight. 
He, however, only promised) to visit his mother, and then re- 
turn to his wives and his tribe. With that understanding he 
accompanied the gentlemen home, in the fiull garb of a wild 
Indian. 

The Lions home stood just as he had left it, a double 
log house, on a prairie ridge, and visible from the west two 
or three miles. Warren recognized it. When about two 
hundred yards from the house, the unsuspecting old mother 
stepped out in the yard in plain view of the approaching 
party. Her long hair, originally of flaxen color, had only as- 
sumed a whiter hue. Warren instantly recognized her and 
dashed forward, uttering the wild man's "wad! of joy."* 
Abruptly halting and dismounting, he sprang into the yard, 
weeping, wailing and gyrating in a manner so weird as to un- 
nerve the dear old mother, till the two neighbors shrieked 
to her: "It w Warren, yotur lost boy!" Then she shouted 
praise to God, and' sought to encircle Warren in her arms, 
wihile he expressed his delight in Indian style, involving dan- 
cing, gesticulations and those guttural indications of j@y pe- 
culiar toi the wild! tribes. 

Warren was resolved to> fulfill his promise and return to 



♦"When he came near the lot where his father was killed," says Wilbarger, "he point- 
ed it out and said: 'Dar me fadder kill— dar me take off,' and as soon as he saw his mother 
he cried out: 'Dar me mudder! Dar me mudder!!' Thus showing that through the long 
years of his' wild, nomadic life— in the chase and on the warpath— the tragic scenes of that 
morning ten years agone were vividly remembered, and that the mother's features had 
been indelibly impressed on the mind ef the youthful captive." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



231 



ibis wives, but the whole country round joined in schemes 
to detain him, but all to no avail till his brother, DeWitt, in- 
duced him to accompany him land join a company of ran- 
gers in Southwest Texas, to fight the Mexicans. To this he 
assented, and this service gradually weaned him from his 
Indian habits, and reconciled him to civilization, ending in 
his marriage and domestic life ; not, however, till he had] par- 
ticipated in several engagements with the Indians, in which, 
like his brothers, he developed the characteristics of a coura- 
geous 1 soldier. 



INDIANS AMBUSH THREE SETTLERS. 

Some negroes belonging to Mr. Beesan, of Columbus, on 
the Colorado, having run away from him, his two sons, Col- 
lins and Leander Beesan, accompanied by a Scotchman 
named Steele, went in pursuit, in the summer of 
1837, hoping to intercept them before they made their way 
to Mexico. The three young men traveled along the San 
Antonio road 1 , without mishap,until they crossed the Guada- 
lupe River at Gonzales. As they ascended the bank of 
that stream on the western side, they rode into an Indian 
ambuscade, and were received withj a rifle volley that killed 
Collins Beesan, crippled and disabled Steele and shot Lean- 
der Beesan 's horse from under him. 

Leander Beesan ran to the river, threw his gun as far 
out into it as he could, and swam back to the other side, 
with bullets whistling about his ears and ricoehetting un- 
comfortably near him. As he buff eted the current he heard 
some one swimming behind] him, but did not turn to see who 
it was, either while crossing or after he reached dry ground. 
As he ran from the border of the river into the timber, he 
heard a groan, which led him it a surmise that the person 
who had followed in his wake across the river was Steele. 
Finding that his heavy, waiter-soaked boots impeded his 1 pro- 
gress, Beesan divested himself of them, and made his way 
home — arriving there some days later in a pitiable condition. 

A company of ten men, including W. B. Dewees, was 



232! 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



immediately assemMed and leaving their families) almost en- 
tirely unprotected, started! for the Guadalupe. A gentleman 
who had! just left the army and who was at Mr. Dewee's 
house sick, loaned themi a spy glass. 

When the party was within fifteen) miles of Gonzales 
they saw, with) the naked! eye, a large number of horses at 
a distance through the timber. Dismounting and bring- 
ing the spy glass into requisition, they discovered that 
Indians were astride the horses, and were apparently awadt^ 
ing the approach of the whites. 

After a briief consultation, it was decided to attatck the 
redskins. Slightly deflecting their course and concealed 
by timber and a hill, Dewees and his companions 
emerged into the open from an unexpected quarter 
and charged the Indians, taking them completely by 
surprise, routing them, and sending them scurrying as 
fast as their mustangs could be made to travel. The 
Indian loss is not stated by Dewees.* The pursuit 
was kept up for a short while. On arriving at the 
rivett* the rescue party found and buried the body of! Collins 
Beesan, but saw nothing of Steele. It was afterwards 
learned that the head of Steele was seen in the camp' of the 
Indians, about three quarters of a mile above Gonzales. 



THE "STONE HOUSE" FIGHT. 

October 7, 1837, Capt. Eastland, then an command of. 
Coleman's Fort, departed from that station with all, or the 
greater portion, of his force, and made a reconnaissance up 
the Colorado river to the mouth of Pecan bayou, and up 
that stream 1 to its source. He desired the entire command 
to return to the fort; but a party under Lieuts. Benthuysen 
and Miles (in all eighteen me n) either disobeyed his ordersy 
or secured permission fromi him, and kept on, farther west to 
th« vicinity of the rock mound, called: the " stone house/ * 
near Caddo Peak, in what is now Callahan county, and 



* Author of Dewees' Letters. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



23$ 



had, a desperate and disastrous battle with) a force of out© 
hundred or more Indians (Wacos, Gaddos, and Keeehies)- 
near The latter land mark, while a body of Delawares look- 
ed on, from a distance, asi passive spectators. 

Noah Smithwick says that a large Indian encampment, 
occupied by the members of several! tribes 1 , includkig some 
Delawares, was found at the "stone house.' ' While at thaJfc 
point one of the rangers, Felix McClusky, gave chase to and 
killed a lone Indian, sealpedi him, and rifled his? pockets, 
though the Delawares tried to prevent him. His fellow rang- 
ers upbraiding him for the deed, he exhibited ia chunk of 
tobacco that h)e had taken from his victim's pocket, and de- 
clared that he "would kill any Injun for that much tobac- 
co." 

The Delawares warned; the whites that Indians of this 
murdered man's tribe and others in alliance with theim, 
would avenge the atrocious crime. 

When thle rangers came in sight of Caddo Peak, they 
were suddenly confronted! by the avengers, wh© 1 demanded 
the surrender of MeOluskey,* which was refused. He pos- 
sessed no atom of that spirit of self-sacrifice, that has some- 
times led men to accept death in order to save the lives of 
others. Tlhere was nothing to do but fight. The whites 
took' position in a ravine and the Indians in a grove, and' the 
battle opened, sans ceremonie, and raged with great fury 
and deadly effect for an hour and a half. The men of both 
sides were armed with rifles, were expert marksmen, and 
tried to waste as little time and ammunition as possible. Four 
of the rangers were killed, and it is believed, a lange num- 
ber of the Indians, before the scales of victory were depress- 
ed im favor of the savage warriors /by a stratagem they 
adojpted. They set fire to the tall, dry grass that covered 
the prairie and that extended into the ravine. The wind 
was blowing in the direction) of the white men, and th« 
flames raced towtard them, preceded by a dense and! blind- 



» Survived the encasement, but was afterward* killed in a drunken brawl. 



234 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ing volume of smoke. The rangers (glanced in one direction 
for a route by which to escape, but saw the Delawares sit- 
ting there, apparently for the purpose of cutting off their 
retreat. Lieuts. Benthuysen and Miles then order e (3 their 
men to follow them in the oppofsite direction down the rav- 
ine, and, emerging from the depression, shot and cut their 
way throuigh the encompassing Indian line, and fought to 
the timber, a distance of about eighty yards. While this move 
Bient was being executed, eight white men were killed, 
Lieut. Miles among the number.* The six survivors, some of 
them severely wounded, were not pursued through the 
woods, and made their way to the site of the present city of 
Dallas, where they found a large encampment of Kickapoo 
Indians, who treated them kindly and allowed them to re- 
turn to the settlements. 



MURDER OF THE KELLOUGH FAMILIES IN EAST 
j TEXAS. 

In 1837 the Indians' became so hostile in the territory 
now constituting Cherokee county, that the settlers moved 
to Nacogdoches. In the fall of that year a number of white 
families went back to- their former homes. On the way tihey 
were met by an old and friendly Indian who told them that 
the region to which they were journeying was filled with 
hostile Indians, and urged them to retrace their steps to 
Nacogdoches. They disregarded his advice. They found 

* Much controversy, and a diversity of opinions, has existed as to who was the real 
captor of Santa Anna. Without attempt to disparage the names and fame of others, we 
subjoin the following "Cbituary Notice of Lieut. A. H. Miles"— printed in the Telegraph 
of issue Saturday, Dec. 16, 1837; and which has passed without repiy or direct attempt to 
dispute ever since: 

"Killed in an engagement with the Indians, Lieut. A. H. Miles, formerly of the city 
of Richmond, Va. This young man, at the first call for volunteers, gallantly came forward 
to assist the sinking and apparently desperate cause of Texas. He was at the battle of San 
Jacinto, and was the real capturer of Santa Anna. His modesty while living induced him 
(together with the fact that he believed he had only done his duty) silently to see others 
reap the honor of the capture, He had, however, in his possession certificates of the late 
Secretary cf War, and Adjutant General of the Army, of the above facts. He left to mourn 
his los3 an affectionate mother and sister, together with a numerous circle of friends and 
acquaintances. They, however, will find consolation by knowing that he died struggling 
for the weal of his adopted country.— S." 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



235 



their fences burned, most of their stock driven off, ami 
their crops greatly damaged. Uhey also saw many Indians 
roving about, but took them to be Gherokees and members 
of the bands associated with that tribe, all of whom profess- 
ed to be friendly. The white people determined to stay 
long enough to gatiher what remained of their crops. One 
day while busily engaged' in this work, they were attacked 
by a large force of Indians, with whom there were a few 
Mexicans. The male members of the Wood, Kellough and 
other famines were murdered, and women anid children 
made prisoners. Nothing was ever after heard of the 
captives, save vague rumors regarding a little 'son of Mrs. 
Wood. It was said that the child' became an Indian war- 
rior and chief of the tribe into which he was adopted, 
but this is only vague tradition. 

There were two Kellough families. The first family, con- 
sisting of Allen Kellough, wife and five children, were all 
killed. Old man Kellough, wife, and two sons, comprised 
the other. The old man and his sons were slaughtered. His 
aged! wife ran into the yard, and 1 tofld the Indians to kill 
her. They refused. Mexicans, who were with them, cursed 
her and told her to go back into> the house, which she fin- 
ally did. Tlhere were two other ladies in the house. Nei- 
ther she nor they were molested. Neither were two other fam- 
ilies. The miserable survivors of the massacre, left every- 
thing' behind them and fled firom the accursed spot to Nac- 
ogdoches. En route they were joined by a band off Chero- 
kees who accompanied them into the town, o;sitensibly as 
an escort. The Cherokees vehemently denied that they or 
Indians associated with them hadi anything to do with the 
massacre; but evidence was adduced 1 that satisfied many 
minds that they and their confederates perpetrated the mur- 
ders. 

John Henry Brown says that the butchery "led to 
the battle of Kickapoo, and was one of the impelling caus- 
es that led to the expulsion of the Cherokees and associate 
bands from the country." 



236 * ♦ * j- |$ BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



SILLING OF SETTLER McCULLOM AND CAPT. ROGERS 
— ADVENTURE OF THE HORNSB7S. 

In November, 1837, Capt. McCullom, who ha£ recently 
come to Texas from Alabama, and Who was stopping at the 
home of Capt. James Rogers, in Bastrop county,* went wdth 
a son of Capt. Rogers to a creek for the purpose of build- 
ing a wolf pen, o(r trap. While they were cutting the nec- 
essary) timber, McCullom was fired' on by Indians, who were 
attracted to the spot by the sound of the axes. He cabled 
to Rogers, telling him to make for the house, and then ran 
in that direction himself, forgetting to take his gun, Which 
he left standing by la tree. The two men speeded down a 
new cut road leading to Wilbarger Creek, and crossed 
ahead of their pursuers ; but as McCullom mounted the 
farther bank, he was shot in the back and! instantly 
killed. Young Rogers kepi' on, passed below the ridge, 
plunged into the undergrowth, and escaped. 

Subsequent -to the foregoing incident, Capt. Rogers, 
Craft and a man whose name is not remembered, went to 
Coleman's Fort to ptrocure ammunition for settlers on the 
Colorado River. While they were crossing the open prairie 
in Hornsby's bend, on their way home, they were chased 
by two parties of Indians — one ridong toward themi £rom 
the rear and the other from the right. Craft and the 
stranger, who were well mounted, escaped; but Rogers, who 
had! an inferior horse wais overtaken, killed and scalped. 
The Indians proceeded to the residence of Reuben Hornsby. 
He was at work on the farm. They attempted to cut him 
off from the house ; but fortunately his son saw them, and 
reached him on a fleet horse in time for both of them to 
escape to the house, where they barred the doors, present- 
ed their rifles, and bluffed the Indians. The redskins were 
not in a mood to come to close quarters and rode off, after 
yelling, circling about the place, and making daring dem- 
onstrations. 



# Father of Ed. »ud J. B. K offers of Tnrrii county. 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



237 



When young Hornsiby left the dwelling to take the horse 
to his father, Mrs. Hornsby and children who were with 
her, ran to the river bottom and) concealed themselves. 
They remained there until after the departure of the In- 
dians and then returned to the habitation, endeared to her 
by so many sorrowful and! hap fry association®. 



POST OAK SPRINGS MASSACRE. 

From several sources — all reliable, but conflicting as to 
date etc. — we gather, meagre details 1 of a horrdMe affair, 
which oecured, persumaibly in May of this year, at a place 
then known as Post Oak Springs, now called Ad Hall, in 
Milam county. 

Preparatory to withdrawing the small ranger force 
from Little River Fort, Lieutenant Erath it appears had sent 
five of Ms men, Dave Farmer, Aaron Collins, Clabe Nefll, 
Sterrett Smith and Jesse Bailey, to Nashville for wagons 
and teams with which to move household effects etc., of the 
two or three families residing at the fort. 

On their return trip wfitih the wagons and) teams ; anid 
just as they approached/ an island or grove of post-oaks in 
the prairie, they were ambushed by a party of Comanche 
Indians* andl all killed. 

Over due to return, a scout was dispatched! and soon 
came upon the horrible scene. All the evidence® of a desper- 
ate fight were apparent. The bodies of Collins and Smith, 
says Sowell,** .were found in one of the wagons, and the oth- 
er three were scattered on the prairie between the wagons 
and' mott of timber. The particulars of this struggle cannot 
be given as none were left of the white men to tell the tale. 
"But it is likely," continues Sowell, "the Indians discover- 
ed them some distance off and hid their forces in or behind 
the mott, and when they charged out and cut the rangers off 



♦Newton C. Duncan's paper read at Old Settlers Reunion. Bel ton, Texas. 1903. 

**A. J. Sowell— on authority of James A. Boalea-in "Texas Indian Fighters". 
P. 229. 



238 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



from this position, they* had made a desperate effort to fight 
their way through the Indians to it. It is likely also that 
there was some conifasion and! there was no concert of ac- 
tion, as the scattered position of their bodies would show. 
The Indians secured all the teams, guns, pistols etc., aaid' re- 
treated." 



GEN. JKO. B. HOOD'S BRILLIANT VICTORY. 

One of the most severe engagements of this year 
was Lieutentant, afterward the famous Confederate General, 
John B. Hood's fight with a party of Comanches and) Lipans 
near the head of Devil's River, Texas. On the 5th of July, 
the gallant young Lieutentant in command of twenty-five 
men of company G, 2nd Cavalry, left Fort Mason on a scout 
against depredating Indians. Provided with thirty days ra- 
tion®, an Indian guide and a compass, and actuated by youth- 
ful aspiration, the little party scoured the country to the 
head of the Concho. 

Near the mouth of Kiowa Creek a trail was discovered 
and rapidly followed to> a water hole near the head of 
Devil's River. From here he hurried on, though his horses 
were very much worried, and traveled over the bluffs and 
mountains down the river, but keeping some three miles from 
it. Late in the afternoon of the 20th of July he left the 
trail, and went in towards the river to get water, as his men 
were very thirsty. About a mile from the trail, and some two 
and a half miles from' his party, on a ridge he discovered 
some horses and a large flag waving. The orders in Texas 
at that time were to attack any Indians found) away from 
the government reservation, but of course to respect a white 
flag. Without going to water, and leaving eight of his com- 
pany with the pack mule® and supplies, Lieutentant Hood, 
with seventeen of his men rode towards the flag. Halting 
near the Indians, Hood signeled them that he was ready to 
fight or talik. As Hood's men advanced five of the Indians 
came forward with the flag, but when within about thirty 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



239 



paces the treacherous foe suddenly threw down the flag and 
setting fire to a lot oif rubbish they had' collected commenced 
a desperate attack, at the same moment about thirty war- 
riors arose from* among the tall grass and "Spanish leaga- 
nets," within ten paces of the soldiers. Twelve had rifles, 
the rest bows and arrows; besides which 8 olr 10, mounted 
on horse back, attacked with lances. Hood's men went at 
them with a yell — thus the struggle commenced and con- 
tinued in a most desperate and determined hand to hand 
struggle, with the odds in favor of the Indians. Hood's little 
force wavered and fell back, but were soon rallied by their 
brave young leader, and making a most desperate and( dash- 
ing charge with their revolvers, the Indians gave way — thus 
the fight continued till dark when the Indians gave up the 
contest and gathering up their dead and wounded moved off 
toward' the Rio Grande — much to the relief of the soldiers 
who had exhausted about their last round of ammunition. This 
was a most serious affair in which two 1 of the scouting party 
v^ere killed and several wounded, among them Lieutenant 
Hood, who had his hand! pinne d to his bridle with an arrow. 
It was 1 afterwards learned that the Indians lost nineteen war- 
riors killed on the field and fatally wounded. Hood) made his 
way to Camp Hudson, where he obtained supplies and med- 
ical aid for his wounded — then returned to' Fort Mason. 
General Twiggs, commanding the department, complimented 
this brave little company on their exploit, saying in his official 
repoirt: "Lieutenant Hood's affair was a gallant one, and 
much credit is due to both officer and men." 

This gave Hood 1 much) eclat as a brave soldier and es- 
tablished his reputation for gallantry. 

Soon after his return from this fight he was promoted 
to the rank of First Lieutenant and stationed at Camp Color- 
ado. In- 1858 he established! Camp Wood, on the Nueces 
riveir, at which post he remained till 1860 when he was 1 call- 
ed to Washington and commissioned as chief of Cavalry at 
West Point — a position he filled till the breaking out of the 
Civil War. 



240 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



During thia year there was a severe encounter with In- 
dians on Maine's Prairie, Anderson county, the particulars 
of which are not at hand. Also, Nunley, Stifflen and 
Smothers were killed in Lavaca county, and a Mr. Davis was 
killed sixteen miles east of Gonzales, by Indians. 

The blood of brave men shed upon the soil of Texas 
during this year was alone enough to render it holy ground, 
and the sufferings that the women and children experienced 
were sufficient to consecrate the land to high ideals. But 
the year stands not alone in these particulars. Grouped with 
it are others. United they call to the Texans of today and 
of the future. " Guard well the noble heritage that you en- 
joy and that cost such a price." 1 



CHAPTER XI. 



HE year of 1838 .opened well for Texas. A 
heavy and desirable emigration that be- 
gan in the latter part of 1837, continued, 
while land values and taxable wealth in- 
creased steadily. New towns, farms and 
ranches were established, and settlements 
pushed westward — along Red River to Fan- 
nin and Grayson counties. 

Galveston had taken on new life through 
the efforts of Colonel Menard, and oth- 
ers, and grew rapidly to a town of importance, be- 
ing adorned by handsome buildings, and having in its 
harbor frequently as many as fifteen or twenty ships and 
vessels at a time. Houston, the seat of government, also in- 
creased dm population and wealth and became a commercial 
depot — communication being maintained between the two 
towns bfy a line of four steamboats. Let the reader remem- 
ber those were days of small things and sparse population. 



PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY — TREATIES WITH THE 
INDIAN TRIBES. 

The French blockade of the coast of Mexico and polit- 
ical convulsions in that country, prevented invasion of Tex- 
as in force, tand left the seas open for developmemt of Texas 
commerce, which expanded until it included trade with Eng- 
land, France, and other foreign countries. 

President Houston by his rigid rules of economy, if not 
replenishing the empty exchequer, was at least restoring 




242 , BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



confidence in the credit of the rising young Republic. The 
country had! been blessed with prolific crop yields the pre- 
vious year. Thus the people were prosperous, and might 
have been entirely hapjpy, b|ut for the redoubled continuation 
of Indian hostilities, which "lit up the wQible frontier with, 
the flames of a savage war." 

The General Land Office of the Republic of Texas, ac- 
cording to previous enactment, was opened) January 4th of 
this year, and was immediately followed by land claimants, 
with surveying parties, invading Indian territory, and bat- 
tles with, and! fierce andl sanguinary reprisals on the part 
of, the Indians. Yoakum attributes the immediate cause of 
increased hostilities to the opening of the land office. 
"Surveyors and locators, desiring to select the best lands, 
had gone out beyond the settlements, and begun their oper- 
ations. The Indians, seeing them at work, were not slow 
to believe what the Mexicans had told them — that the White 
people would take all their hunting (grounds, and drive tihem 
off. Their attacks upon the frontiers wetre; in resistance of 
this movement."* 

President Houston's Indian policy was continued, and 
tested to the utmost. 

January 18, 1838, a treaty of peace was signed at Live 
Oak Point, by James Power, acting for the government of 
Texas, and Culegasde Castro, chief of the tribe, represent- 
ing the Lipans. It was stipulated that the Indians were (bo 
be given $250.00 worth of presents ; that trading houses were 
to be established among them ; and that neither Indians nor 
white people were to take redress of grievances into their 
own hands. 

Emanating from the War Department, a little later, we 
find the following conciliatory order: 

Houston, Feb. 4, 1838. 
To Gen. A. Sidney Johnston, Col. Lysander "Wells. 

Gentlemen: By order of His Excellency, the President, 



♦ Hietory of Texas, Vol. 2. P. 248. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



243 



yon are hereby empowered' m commissioners to meet and hold 
conference with the Comanche Indians. 

You are to meet them so soon as practicable, assure 
them of our friendly feelings toward them, and of ooir ear- 
nest desire to cultivate with them a trade for our mutual ad- 
vantage, and' to this end., trading house® shall be established 
for their convenience, by which means they will find a mar- 
ket for their mules, buffalo robes, etc. Invite seven or 
eigjit of their chiefs to visit the Executive and (both houses 
of Congress at the next session, say about the 21st of April 
next. Also have an understanding 1 with them that they are 
at all times to co-operate with us against our enemies. 

"We rely upon your good judgment and discretion in 
saying to them all which shall be necessary to convince 
them of our friendship to them. Assure them also* that the 
President has now gene to Nacogdoches to enter into an ar- 
rangement with, the Cherokees. Barnard E. Bee. 

Col. Henry W. Karnesi was appointed as a colleague of 
Johnston and Wells, to assist in the mission. His letter of 
instructions, under date of April 12, 1838, suggests that be 
must use great caution, in discussing the question of terri- 
tory limits with this tribe — 4 'That you must manage in this 
way. You must say to them that they will continue to 
hunt where they have game, and if they find our people in 
their hunting grounds with the passwords, to treat them 
kindly, as our people will do should the Comanches come in- 
to our settlements." 

" After a delay of some two months, a band of about 150 
Comanches, led by two* chiefs, Essowakkenny and Essoman- 
ny," says Gen. Johnston's biographer, "came in to hold the 
'talk.' The chiefs were about' twenty-seven or twenty-eight 
years old, and about five feet eigjht in height; Essomanny 
was rather a bull-headed fellow, with a firm and sensible ex- 
pression; Essowakkenny had a more intelligent countenance.' * 

It (had been the immemorial custom of the Comanches, 
after plundering the country, to ride at their leisure into San 
Antonio to trade, or for ransom. On such occasions, to relieve 



244 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



themselves from the care of their horses, these fierce war- 
riors condescendingly! committed their cabaHado to tlhe cus- 
tody 1 of the commandant, from whom they required a scrupu- 
lous return of their chattels when they should) be ready to 
leave. On this occasion, Essowakkenny, on meeting General 
Johnston, waved his hand with a lordly gesture towards his 
horses, saying: "There is our caballado. Hake care of it." 
"Yes," replied General Johnston, looking at him steadily, 
"I see your caballado. You ride good ponies. I advise you 
to watch them well. All white men are not honest. I take 
good care of my horses. Take care of yours." By which 
the General meant to teach the Comanches that he was not 
"a Mexican hostler in uniform." The chief understood the 
irony, and that he had to deal with a warrior ; he smiled 
grimly, -and detailed some of his own men to watch the graz- 
ing herd. 

A "big talk" was held, in which the advantage® of a 
peace truce were freely discussed, and with reciprocal as- 
surances of a desire for such. In the course of his "talk" 
General Johnston suggested, that if so desired, trading posts 
would be established among them. Essowakkenny rose, and 
said* " that the Comanches had noticed that trading posts (al- 
ways seemed to frighten the buffalo away, so that they did 
not want any in their country • but they did not object to a 
line of posts along the border of their country" — drawing an 
imaginary line with his hand, so as to indicate a distance of 
about three unfiles from San Antonio. Not caring to discuss 
the delicate subject of the boundary further, General John- 
ston, without alluding to the trading posts again, dilated 
upon the benefits of peace. Essowakkenny rejoined that his 
people had made peace with the Mexicans. "I am glad of 
it," replied Johnston; "although the Mexicans are not our 
friends, it is good' for the Comanches to be at peace with 
everybody." Essowakkenny added, with a humorous look, 
that "he did not make peace with the Mexicans until he 
had stolien all their horses}." To the invitation and request 
that he visit the President at Houston, Essowakkeniny re- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



245 



plied that he could not go, but that his brother, Essonianny, 
who was a braver man than himself, would go. He then de- 
clared sentiments of the strongest friendship for the whites; 
presents of considerable value were distributed — eliciting 
many " grunts" and! expressions of satisfaction — when the 
council was dismissed with the best of feelings prevailing. 

On the strength of this talk, Colonel Karnes, supplying 
himself with a quantity of suitable goods, left witb the band 
on a trading venture among the Comanches. And 
it is of record! that "be was treated well and made much 
money." Encouraged by these results, a party of thirteen 
men afterwards left S<an Antonio with goods to trade with 
them ; but as they were never heard of again, it was sup- 
posed they were treacherously murdered by the Comanches.* 

A treaty of peace was concluded with the Tonkawas, at 
Houston, April 11, 1838, and signed by Secretary of War 
Barnard E. Bee and Col. George W. Hockley for Texas, and 
chiefs, Placido, Benavido, Campos and Oquin, for the Indians. 
It contained the following, among other provisions: "Art. 
1. The Tonkawa Indians * * * -being desirous of enjoying 
their hunting grounds and homes in peace and also, that 
their white brothers may be fully assured that they sincerely 
wish to love them as brothers, do agree and promise to bring 
to just punishment such individuals of their tribe as may 
commit any depredation upon the property or injure the per- 
son of any of the citizens belonging to the Republic of Tex- 
as. 

"Art. 2. Hon. B. E. Bee and Col. G. W. Hockley, com- 
misioners on the part of the Republic of Texas, being desir- 
ous that their red brothers, the Tonkawas, may not be 
cheated by bad men, will forthwith appoint an agent who 
shall superintend their business and protect their rigbts and 
see that this agreement is complied with by all. 

"It was stipulated that five Tonkawa chiefs should 
visit the seat of Government twioe a year and talk witlh 



*Wm. Preston Johnston's "The Life of Albert Sidney Johnston." P. 89. 



246 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the President and amicably adjust all differences." 

An act of the Texas Congcress, approved May 15, 1838, 
authorized the President to raisie a corps of cavalry, to con- 
sist of two hundred men, enlisted f or not less than one nor 
more than three years, for the protection of the southwest- 
ern frontier), 

Following the "big talk" at San Antonio, it appears that 
the President succeed'ed in concluding a treaty of peace with 
the Comanches, at the Capital, signed on May 29, 1838,* by 
Secretary of State, R. A. Irion, and Dr. Ashabel Smith, for 
Texas, and chiefs Muguarroh, Muestyad and Muhy for the 
Indians. The Comanches were to quit stealing from, and 
murdering white people. The chiefs were to visit the seat 
of Government art) stated] times to discuss matters of mutual 
interest and to peaceably settle grievances. The following 
were some of the articles of the compact: "Art. 9i. The 
Comanches bind themselves to make war upon all tribes of 
Indians that may make, or attempt to make, war on the trad- 
ers. 

"Art. 10. The Comanches promise that they will stand 
by the white man and be his friend against all of his ene- 
mies * * * and will not kill him or steal his property. 

" Art 11. Peace is never to die between the parties 
that make this agreement, they have shaken hands upon it, 
and the Great Spirit has looked down and seen their ac- 
tions. He will curse all the chiefs that tell a lie before his 
eyes. Their women and children cannot be happy,." 

But the ink was scarcely dry on the instrument before 
it was violated by these 1 faithless and fiendish savages, whom 
we soon find not only "raiding, robbing and scalping as of 
yore, but with the reckless abandon of back-sliders. ' 1 

A treaty of peacd was entered into with the Wacos, 
Techuacanas, Keechies and Towash (Pawnee) Indians Sept. 
2, 1838. It was negotiated by Holland' Coffee near the 
mouth of the Washita in Fannin county. 



♦Archives-Indian Affairt-Stata Library. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



247 



However impractical Houston's policy may have been 
we see that no efforts were lacking to conciliate the Indiana*. 
How far these measures served in preventing hostilities 
one cannot judge — since the catalogue of crimes and trage- 
dies is seemingly most complete, as may be seen from a re- 
view of the history of this period. 



SURVEYORS FIGHT ON BATTLE CREEK. 

One of the bloodiest and' hardest fought battles that 
ever took place on Texas soil between white men and In- 
dians was what is known in histony as the Surveyors 
Fight, which occurred near the present village of Dawson, 
Navarro county, in October, 1.838« 

Omitting many details of thrilling incidents and acts of 
individual heroism in this celebrated encounter and fierce 
border drama, we shalll give the principal facts of the affair 
as contained in a letter to the author from the late Gen. Wal- 
ter P. Lane, one of the participants, and who escaped the 
fearful conflict with life and lived to participate in many oth- 
er bloody battles — but none so hotly contested nor so fatal, 
considering numbers engaged and arms employed. 

Marshall, Texas, May 18, 1885. 
James T. DeShields, Esq., 
Belton, Texas. 

Dear Sir: — Your letter asking me to give you an account 
of the fight with the Kickapoo Indians, September 8, 1838, 
is just to hatod. In answer I will say that I was in a fight 
with the Indians em Richland Creek, (afterwards called Bat- 
tle Creek) but it has been so long ago I have forgotten 
most of the incidents'. 

We started — a surveying party of twenty-two men and a 
boy from Old Franklin, in Robertson county, Captain Neil 
commanding, and William Henderson, surveyor. We camped 
on the second day at Parker's Fort. Two years before 
that the Fort had been taken by; the Comanches, the men 
killed, and the wioanen and children taken- into captivity. 



248 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



When we reached Battle Creek it was day, so we en- 
camped on the other side, some two miles beyond, where 
we found some 300 Kickapoo Indians killing buff alo for win- 
ter supplies. We got on very well with them till we com- 
menced surveying. They tried to frighten us off by stat- 
ing that the Ionies were coming down to kill us, and it 
would be laid on them. We would not go. The third day 
we came to camp in the morning to cook breakfast, when 
they begged, us again to go. After breakfast we went back 
to resume our surveying where we left off. A mile from 
camp they (ambuscaded us in a ravine ; some fifty fired on us 
at forty yards. We charged them, when 100 more showed 
themselves in the timber behind them. At the same time 
300 charged down upon us on horseback from the prairies. 
They rode around us, firing. We retreated! 1 to the head of a 
ravine in the prairie; its banks were some four or five feet 
high, with a few cot,tonwood trees growing on them. The In- 
dians got seven/ty-five yards below us and commenced firing. 
This was about nine o 'clock. Whenever one of our men 
would put up his head to shoot, twenty-five Indians would 
pull down on him. The Indians had climbed up in these cot- 
tonwood trees in order to shoot over into the creek. A gal- 
lant gentleman, Mr. Euclid M. Cox, got behind a lone tree 
on the bank, and, fired) for several hours, shooting &t the In- 
dians in the trees below, but exposing his body, he was shot 
through the spine. He fell from the tree, the Indians still 
firing at him. I ran up the bank took him by the shoulder, 
and, under heavy fire dragged him to the ravine. Mr. Cox 
was stall alive when his companions made their escape but 
realizing that has wound was fatal he urged them to save 
themselves and leave him to his fate. Button, one of his 
companions, proposed to stay and die with him ; he told But- 
ton there was no chance for him, giving him one of his 
pistols and told him that if he made his escape to give the 
pistol to his wife ; the other, he took in his hand and re- 
marked that he would keep this one to defend himself with. 
Button made his escape and delivered the pisitol a« requested 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



-and it is now in- the possession of Sheriff Cox of Hillsboro. 
Davis of Sao Augustine, who was well mounted, tried to 
break through hut the Indians caught and killed him in sight. 
"We fought till twelve o'clock at night. We were waiting 
for the moon to cloud over before we charged through them 
to the bottom one fourth mile distant. At that time we 
broke through. The Indians kept thirty stjeps in our rear, 
firing. We would face around s nd fire. We had: three 
horses left when we retreated, with two wounded men on 
each. Captain Neill was shot in tho back and fell. He call- 
ed to me to help him on a horse, whose rider was just killed. 
Two of us got him on, but the horse and rider were both 
killed before they got twenty steps. I had got within one 
hundred yards of the timber when I was shot in the leig, 
splintering the bone. I made out to reaeh a thicket in com- 
pany with Henderson and Button, the only two who were 
not wounded. We got into a deep ravine that led to the 
creek. I called to Henderson to stop and tie up my leg as 
I was bleeding to death. He did so promptly. We went 
down some distance and heard the Indians following us. We 
climbed on the bank and lay down with our guns cocked. 
Twelve of them passed so close I could have touched them. 
We got on the creek an hour before day, and followed down 
till we found some muddy water. .We left the creek and 
went on the bank till we found a log reaching to a brushy 
island. We crossed over it and lay hidden all day. We 
could hear the Indians on the bank looking for us. At dark 
"we started. When I got to my feet the pain from splinters of 
the bone was so great that I fainted. When I came to, I heard 
Button tell Henderson to come on and leave me, for I could 
not get to the settlements. I arose to my feet, cursed But- 
ton, and told him I would beat him to the settlements — 
which I did. We traveled two days without water before we 
reached Tehuaeana Hill. A party of Kickiapoos found us at 
the spring (they did not know of our fight with their tribe). 
They pointed to my bloody leg and asked '"Who shot you"? 
I told him we had a fight with the Ionies, and we had got lost 



250 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



from our party going home. They took us to their camp, 
gave us plenty tto eat, and their squaws treated^ us very 
kindly. 

In two days after we got to Franklin the people 
raised a company aind went to Battle Creek and buried th- 
bones of our men. Summed up, sixteen killed, seven escaped 
five of whom were badly wounded. 

Mr. Violet had his thigh wounded in the edge of the 
timber. He ate green haws for two days and them struck out 
for Tehuacana Hill, distance twenty-five miles, on his hands 
and knees. The party we sent up found* him nearly fam- 
ished, brought him to the settlement, and cared for him. 

Youffs truly, 

Walter P. Liame. 
# * # * # 

Further incidents occurring in the course of this fear- 
ful engagement and especially detailing the tragic fate of 
the brave Euclid M. Cox, are gleaned from a graphic narra- 
tive of this affair by Mr. T. H. Dixon who wrote from au- 
thentic data supplied by John P. Cox, a surviving son of the 
noble martyr-pioneer. 

As Gen. Lane has stated, the little band of hardy pio- 
neers were surrounded on all sides and quickly realized that 
to charge in any direction would be certain death. The en- 
filade of the Indians was already fierce. In this dilemma 
they discovered near them the head of a ravine, the bed 
of which was some five or six feet in depth, and to which 
they made way with their wounded in all possible haste. 
On gaining this refuge they managed to check the on- 
slaught of the Indians and succeeded by cautious firing, 
bravery and alertness, in holding their position. But along 
the banks of the ravine no foliage appeared behind which 
they could conceal their position, other than a large and lone 
tree standing near the bank, and in order to shoot it be- 
came necessary for them to show their heads, and every 
time this was done a perfect fusillade of bullets whistled about 
them from the guns of the savages. Though partially 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



251 



protected by the friendly banks of the ravine the little band 
of brave and dauntless men were completely hemmed in on 
all sides by hordes of painted and yelling warriors. 

" About noon (says Dixon) the daring and intrep- 
id Euclid M. Cox conceived the idea of gaining- the shelter 
of the oak above mentioned, and by the use of extreme 
caution he managed to secrete himself in irte foliage and 
from this place of concealment he managed. 1 for nearly two 
hours to pour a continuous and deadly fire into the savage 
ranks. Unfortunately, however, in an unguarded moment, 
this hero exposed a portion of his body to the savages and 
they greeted its appearance with a perf ect whirlwind of 
shot, one of which penetrated his spine causing him to fall to 
the ground, and the Indians noticing this, and believing that 
he was the leader of the party, redoubled their firing at 
that point. At the time of the fall of the brave man from 
the tree, Gen. Walter P. Lane, then in the prime and vigor 
of his early manhood, chanced to be in the ravine near by, 
and noting the imminent peril of his heroic and wounded 
companion, dashed from hiss place of refuge and with lead- 
en missiles hailing all about him, seized Cox by the shoul- 
ders and pulled; him to the bed of the ravine. This heroie 
conduct of Waiter P. Lane was but in keeping with his sub- 
sequent deeds 1 of valor upon full many a hard fought field.* 

"The rescue of Cox's wounded body, and the escape of 
Lane in safety back to the ravine appeared to arouse the 
fury of the savages to the utmost, and from that time for- 
ward until nightfall the hard pressed heroes found it a 
matter of extreme difficulty to hold the savages at bay. 
They realized that something must be done and that speedi- 
ly, for they had' been fighting hardi all day without food or 
water, and their thirst was becoming unbearable. A consul- 
tation was held and it was decided that upon the going 
down of the moon at midnight, they would make a desperate 

¥Gen. Walter P. Lane was the last survivor of this memorable fight. The grand old 
hero of several wars and many similar border affrays, finally died in peace at an advanced 
age on January 28, 1892. and his remains rest in "Old Marshall Cemetery" at Marshall. 
Harrison county. Texas. Peace to his ashes. 



352 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



attempt to charge through the savages and) gam the shelter 
of the timber, about half a miie distant. 

' 1 Among the survivors in the ravine, was a man by the 
name of Davis, who hailed/ from San Augustine who being 
well mounted, determined, to make an effort to reach the tim- 
ber by charging through the savages single handedi and 
alone in order to be in a position at midnight to aid his com- 
panions in their desperate resolve by opening fire upon the 
savages from the rear, hoping thereby to withdraw at- 
tention from the ravine until his companions could 1 succeed 
in making considerable headway. He bade his companions 
good-by and started' upon his desperate ride, but both horse 
and rider perished before they had gotten thirty yards. At 
last the moon sank to rest behind the horizon, and the little 
band began active preparations for their desperate charge. 
They had three horses left them and upon each they put 
two of their wounded who could ride. 

"The brave and daring Cox realizing his position full well, 
and knowing that he had but a few hours to live, would not 
hear to his companions remaining behind with him, but in- 
sisted upon their taking their leave. One of the survivors, 
a young man who was in the employ of Cox, went to him 
and begged to be permitted to remain with him, but the 
dying hero would) not hear to it, and taking one of the 
pistols from his belt, he handed it to his friend and request- 
ed that in the event of his escape he give the weapon to 
his beloved wife, then at their home in Washington county, 
and whose loved, form he was destined never more to see 
upon this earth. This party was one of the few survivors 
of this massacre, and he carried out to the letter the in- 
structions of his dead employer. Mr. John P. Cox of Hills- 
boro, who has been for nearly a fifth of a century the sher- 
iff of Hill county, has that very pistol of his dead father 
in his possession to-day, and as he exhibited it to the writer 
his eyes beamed) with pride and affection upon it. But let 
us proceed with the narrative. 

i{ During that fearful midnight charge, all but three of 



BORDBR WARS OF TEXAS. 



253 



the sfurvivors of the day's fighting were killed or wounded, 
and! among .the latter was the heroic Walter P. Lane, who 
had' has leg broken by a bullet, but managed to gain the 
timber in safety in spite of his wound. Smith, Button, and 
the gallant Col. W. F. Henderson were the three who es- 
caped unhurt, but amidst great suffering. In the charge, 
the party became separated, and one of their numbeor wan- 
dered through the country alone for days and weeks, but 
finally succeeded in reaching the settlements. Violet, who 
had his leg broken, also became separated from his com- 
panions m that fearful charge and crawled twenty-five 
miles in that condition to Tehuacana Springs, where he was 
rescued & week later in a famished and almost dying con- 
dition. Henderson and Button with the wounded Lane 
slowly proceeded toward the settlements. 

"The Indians knowing well the route they had to take 
or would take on the journey and being desirous of killing 
the entire party proceeded ahead, and waylaid the route they 
expected them to take. But fortunately for those gallant 
heroes, Love and Jackson, chanced to discover the Indiana 
while returning from the settlement with the compass, and 
after a short skirmish succeeded] in routing them. They 
were surprised upon proceeding some distance further, to 
meet Henderson and Button with the wounded Lane slowly 
walking into the trap set for them by the wily savages, 
and it was here that they first learned of the sad fate that 
had befallen their party. After carrying Lane to the settle- 
mem a burial party was organized and they set /out for the 
purpose of interring their dead. 

"Upon reaching the scene of the fight they recovered and 
buried beneath the spreading boughs of the oak on the 
bank of the ravine, the dead bodies of seventeen heroes. 
They found the dead body of the heroic Cox near where 
they had left him at his own request to die alone in the ' 
darkness of the night, for the reason that he knew he had 
received his death wound, and that any attempt to save 
him would be useless. When they left this hero on that 



254 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 

fateful night, life was not entirely gone from his body and 
a loaded pistol was left with him, but on their return it 
was gone, and near him were pools of blood, indicating that 
he had dealt the death wound to at least another savage 
prior to the flight of his soul to that other world." 
# # #|* * # # * * * 

Should the tourist, seeking objects of historical interest, 
and shrines of hero worship chance to visit the vicinity of 
this desperate contest between white and red men in the long 
ago, he would behold beneath t£e boughs of a majestic, but 
a battle-tscarred, oak, a beautiful shaft towering far above 
the surrounding undergrowth, and upon closer inspection he 
would find' it chiseled with the names of the heroic dead who 
rest beneath it; the date and manner of their death, etc. — 
a fitting memorial erected a few years since, in commemora- 
tion of the gallant fight they made for the supremacy of 
the white man and civilization, by two loving sons of the gal- 
lant Euclid M. Cox; John P. Cox who has spent the best 
years of his life as a sheriff and in enforcing the laws of 
his country, and Rev. J. Fred Cox, a presiding elder of the 
M. E. church South, long laboring for the uplifting of man* 
in Texas — a tribute of noble sons to the valor of their worthy 
sire and his equally gallant comrades who lost their lives 
in defense of this land against savagery. And reader, were 
you a stranger and knew not the legends of our border 
land, any Texan, with swelling pride and patriotic emotions, 
would tell you in substance the story here recounted — the 
traditions of our border history and the valorous deeds of 
our matchless pioneers that have been handed down, trans- 
mitfted as it were, from bleeding sire to son.* 



* Hillsboro, Texas, February 14. 1899. 

Mr. James T. DeShields, FarmerSTille, Texas. 

Dear Sir: I Bend you herewith the photograph of the monument to the heroes of the Bat- 
tle Creek, or Surveyors fight, also of my fathers pistol. My father, Euclid M. Cox, was 
born in Kentucky, near Bowling: Green. He came to Texas in February, 1832. I have hie 
passport from New Orleans to Texas, given by the Mexican Council. He was in the battle 
of Concepcion and the Grass fight in 1835, and served under Gen. Sam Houston in the cam- 
paign of 1836. 

I append a list of those who were killed in the Battle Creek fight, and whose names 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



255 



FATE OF OTHER SURVEYING EXPEDITIONS. 

Earlier in this year, perhaps two or three months be- 
fore the occurrence of the Surveyors Fight, above narrated, 
the veteran surveyor, Col. Wm. F. Henderson, had lead a sur- 
veying party from Old Franklin to the same vicinity and 
succeeded in doing some work on Pin Oak, a small tributary 
of Richland creek, in Navarro county. But the party exper- 
ienced considerable trouble from Indians; one of the men — - 
Holland — having been killed and the balance of the corps 
forced to desist from work and retreat to the settlements. 

At the same time another surveying party conducted by 
Col. Richard Sparks from Fort Houston (now Palestine) pen- 
etrated the same section and attempted to survey lands — 
somewhat in conjunction with Henderson's party. But 
Spark's party also met with disaster — first, Berry, one of 
their men who became separated from his companions, was 
brutally murdered, and then the Indians attacked the party, 
killing Colonel Sparks and dispersing fhe balance, 
who escaped afoot and without food or arms with which to 
kill game, finally reaching the settlements in sad plight. 

The sad and unsuccessful results of these and other expe- 
ditions, going out of Old Franklin, Fort Houston and that 
section of the country, completely broke up the Springfield 
and other more advanced settlements, and further efforts in 
that direction were not again attempted until about 1844-45 
when the Indians were pushed back, effectual surveys ac- 
complished and the country regularly located and permanent- 
ly settled. 



THE PIONEER MOTHERS OF TEXAS. 

During the winter of 1837-8, Indians were exceedingly 



appear on the monument: Euclid M. Cox. Tom Barton, Sam Allen, — Ingraham, — Davis , 
J. Hard, Asa T. Mitchell, J. Neal, Wm. Tremier, - Spikes, J. Bulloch, N. Baker, A. Hous- 
ton, P. M. Jones. James Jones, Dave Clark, J. W. Williams. The few to escape were Wal- 
ter P. Lane, W. F. Henderson, — Violet, — Button, and — Smith. 

I hope to read your history soon, for I am satisfied it will be fine. 

Yours truly John P Cox 



256 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



hostile towiard the people of the Brazos, depredating to such 
an extent that the f ew .advanced settlers were compelled to re- 
move down to the more populous settlements. Among those 
to abandon their newly; acquired homestead was Wm. Smith 
and family, who had located in the Brazos bottom. While 
loading their household effects into a wagon for moving, 
they were attacked by a party of Indians. Barring the 
doors of their log cabin, they prepared for defense, but un- 
fortunately found that most of their ammunition was in 
the wagon. The situation was critical, requiring quick and 
desperate action. The brave wife and mother was equal to 
the emergency — unmindful of her great peril — thinking only 
of protecting her loved ones — she opened the door, rushed to 
the wagon near by in the yard, and secured a supply of 
powder and lead, returned, with but slight wounds, amid a 
perfect shower of balls and arrows, and calmly set to work 
moulding bullets. Firing through the cracks with good aim 
as opportunity offered, Mr. Smith withstood the fierce and 
prolonged attack, cuasing the savages to retire with their 
wounded. As soon as expedient, the family retreated with 
their effects into the settlements. The following year, Mr. 
Smith participated, as we have seen, in tfhe famous Battle 
Creek fight, and escaped to lender much service on) the 
southwestern frontier. He was a brave, Christian gentleman. 
His heroic and noble wife, noted for her many virtues, lived 
to rear an interesting and worthy family of sons and daugh- 
ters— one son, the late Prof . Smith of Old Salado College, be- 
ing personally known to the writer. 

Forever honored and exalted be the memory of the no- 
ble and matchless pioneer mothers of Texas. Brave, hardy, 
and suffering severest trials without shirking or complaint, 
the highest tribute should be conferred on them, because 
c< a spirit so resolute, yet so adventurous, so unambitious 
yet so exalted — a spirit so highly calculated to awaken a 
Ioyq of the pure and noble, yet so uncommon, never before 
actuated the ancestral matrons of any land or clime." 




1. REV. ANDREW DAVIS 
3. COLLIN MC KINNEY 



a. JNO. W. WILBARGER 

4. A B R A M ANGLIN 



MONU MEMT 1 O HEROES OF BATTLE CREEK FIGHT 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



257 



The mothers of our frontier land ! 

Stout-hearted dames were they, 
With nerves to wield the battle-brand 

And join the border fray. 
Our rough land had no braver ones 

In the days of blood and strife — 
Aye, ready for the severest toil, 

Aye, free to peril life. 

The mothers of our frontier land 

Their bosoms pillowed men! 
And proud indeed, were they to stand 

In hummock, fort or glen; 
To load the sure old rifle, 

To run the ' leaden ball, : 
To stand beside a husband's place 

And fill it should he fall. 

The movers of our forest land, 

Such was their daily deed's, 
Their monument where does it stand? 

Their epitaph! Who reads? 
No braver dames had Sparta, 

No nobler matrons Rome, 
And yet who lauds or honors them, 

In this their own green home? 



EARLY DAYS OF BASTROP. 

Like Gonzales on the Guadalupe, and Nashvdille on the 
Brazos, Bastrop on the Colorado, was for some years an ex- 
treme outpost, and in consequence suffered greatly from In- 
dian depredations.. The town was first laid out by Stephen 
F. Austin in 1830, and named in honor of that early friend 
to the Austins and colonial Texas — the Baron de Bastrop. 
Some of the most prominent early defenders of Texas; as 
the Burlesons, the Wilbargers, the Wileys, the Hardemans, 
the Andersons, the Bartons, Robt. M. Williamson, High- 
smiths, Robt, M. Coleman, John Caldwell, Dalrymple, Gil- 



258 , BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



leland, Barkley, John W. Pace, Bartlett Sims, Jesse ("Buck- 
skin") Billingsley, Cicero Rufus Perry, Geren Brown, John 
Eggleston, and many others of whom space forbids mention 
here, were residents of this town. 

Tlhe municipality of Bastrop took an early and promi- 
nent part in the revolutionary movement for independence 
in 1835, being the first to organize a committee of safety. 

Some of the stirring and bloody episodes occurring in 
and around this' truly frontier town have already been nar- 
rated and. other incidents will be briefly noted in tthis con- 
nection. 

John Eggleston, an early settler and a worthy soldier 
in the Texas war of independence, was killed by Indians in 
the town of Bastrop. Wilbarger furnishes the following inci- 
dents of his tragic fate : 

"Near Eggleston 's residence, one of his neighbors, Car- 
ter Anderson, had picketed in a large lot for the siaf e keep- 
ing of his stock, the gate of which was fastened every night 
with a chain and padlock. One dark night in January, 
1838, Eggleston happened to be walking on the street near 
Anderson's lot. Hearing a rattling of the chain at the gate 
and thinking probably some one was trying to enter it, he 
concluded to investigate the matter. As he approached 
he heard, as he thought, the grunting of hogs, and see- 
ing several dlark objects moving in the vicinity, he 
naturally supposed they were hogs and turned to retrace 
his step. Just as he did so an arrow struck him in the 
breast. Eggleston fled, crying out 'Indians' as he went. 
There were a few men on guard at the time, who heard his 
cries and hurried to his assistance, but they were unable 
to pursue the Indians, for the night was a very dark one, 
and they made their escape. Eggleston survived for three 
days in great agony." 

Soon after this the Indians again entered the town at 
night, killing Messrs. Hart and Weaver, and escaped. 

A little later, some three miles east of town, Messrs. 
Robinson and Dollar were riving boards, when they were 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



259 



surprised by fifteen Indians. Says Brown: "Each sprang 
upon his horse, near by, but Robinson was killed' at the 
siame moment, while Dollar was pursued and hemmed on a 
high bank of the river; but leaving his horse, he leaped 
down tthie bank about twenty feet, swam the Colorado and 
then hastened to town. Soon afterwards he started to 
leave the country and was never again heard of. No doubt 
was entertained, however, of his having been killed by In- 
dians/'* 

In the winter of this year a citizen was killed by In- 
dians in the streets of Bastrop. In fact scarcely a month 
passed that the town was not visited by some murdering, 
band of Indians, but the details in most instances, are /too 
meager for record. 



CAPTAIN HARVEY'S ADVENTURE. 

Among the early and useful pioneers, personally known 
to the writer, was Capt. John Harvey, who long resided at 
the beautiful little village of Salado in Bell county;, 
and where he died about 1886. He was another Tenne- 
seean to Texas, born in 1810, and emigrating in 1834. He 
participated in the battle of San Jacinto, and afterwards, 
joined several expeditions against Indians and Mexicans. Be- 
ing a surveyor by profession and doing much work on the 
frontier, he had a number of adventures and escapades. 
The following incident, though not resulting in tragedy,, 
will be of thrilling interest : 

Harvey, accompanied by a party of twenty men, 
camped in the territory traversed by the San Saba, but 
several miles from the stream, for the purpose of surveying 
lands granted to German colonists. 

His companions were inexperienced and he found it im- 
possible to induce them to take ordinary precautions against 
surprise and attack by hostile Indians. Vhe weather being 
sultry, the men dispersed in various directions for water, 
leaving Harvey in camp. 



* Brown s Indian Ware and Pioneers of Texas. 



260 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



Becoming thirsty himself, some time after their depart- 
ure, he struck out down a ravine, hoping to find a pool of 
water. After he had proceeded for a mile or more, he was 
suddenly surrounded and captured by Waco Indians, who 
rose from behind! bushes where they had been crouching and 
awaiting his approach. 

With their prisoner they started for camp. On 
the way they stole a pony from a Comanche camp and be- 
ing very hungry, killed it and cooked and ate part of it. 
They then tied a hind-quarter of the animal — over one hun- 
dred pounds of meat — on Harvey 'is back and hastened oa 
to their rendezvous. No halt was made there, but the entire 
band at once started on the retreat to their distant home. 
They traveled without pause until sunset, and! then stopped 
for the purpose of camping for the night. Harvey had been 
compelled to carry hiis burden and keep up with them over 
mountains and across gulches and canyons, and was com- 
pletely exhausted. 

A moment later the pursuing Comanches dashed upon 
the scene and surrounded the camp. The Wacos off ered no 
resistance* 

In Obedience to the command of the Comanche chief, 
they produced tihe Waco who had stolen the pony, and he 
was immediately tied and staked to the ground, and given 
three hundred lashes on the bare back with a rawhide whip. 

He then asked who was responsible for taking the white 
man prisoner. The Wacos indicated their chief, and the 
Comanches immediately seized and bound him, and gave him 
the same kind of flogging. 

They gave Harvey a butcher knife and 'told him to kill 
the Waco chief. He refused to do so. They then urged 
him to cut off the chief's ears. This he also declined to do. 

The Comanche chief ordered the Wacos not to further 
molest Harvey or his men and departed, taking him with 
them and started him back to his own camp. For SKHne rea- 
son, it seems, they considered him and his men, as being un- 
der their special protection. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. | 261 



KARNES' FAMOUS FIGHT, 

On August 10, 1838, Capt. Henry Karnes, with twenty- 
volunteers, was halting on the Arroya Seco, a small stream 
west of the Medina, when they were suddenly and unexpect- 
edl attacked by about' 200 armed and mounted Comanches. 
Quick as possible the rangers secured their horses, and. im- 
mediately prepared* — somewhat protected by a ravine and 
the chaparal — for defense. Ten to one, the Indians were con- 
fident of success, and charged with exultant yells. The Tietx- 
ans were cool and' determined, firing with deadly aim and in 
alternate platoons, by which one third of their guns were 
always loaded to meet the oft repeated attacks at close 
quarters. Again and 1 again the Indians charged and were re- 
pulsed, till more than twenty of their warriors were slain, 
and as many more wounded, when they gave up the con- 
test, retreating with their desd. Captain Karnes, greatly ex- 
posed, received a severe wound, (which two years later caus- 
ed 'his death) besides nearly every horse belonging to his men 
was either killed or wounded. 

This was a moist gallant and successful defense against 
immense odds, the skill and bravery displayed, stamping ev- 
ery member of the little company a real hero. 

CAPTURE OF MATILDA LOOKHART AND THE PUT- 
MAN CHILDREN. 

In October, 1838, occurred the capture of Matilda Lock- 
hart and the Putman children, one of the notable incidents 
of Texas border history. The following account is from the 
pen of A. J. Sowell, and is believed to be substantially cor- 
rect: 

"In the fall of 1838 there lived two families on the west 
bank of the Gaudalupe river, two miles below the town of 
Gonzales, named Putman and Lockhart. They were industri- 
ous, good citizens and had just begun to get things into shape 
again around their homes after the terrible " runaway: 
scrape/ ' as it wias cialled, and the battle of San Jacinto. Life 
Ahead of them looked brigftot and eheerful, but alas for human 



362 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Slopes and aspirations, how soon was their cup of sorrow to 
be filled to overflowing and they compelled/ to drink to 
the bitter dregs! In the fall of the above named' year Matil- 
da Lockhart andi three of the Putman children, two girls and 
a boy, James, the youngest of the party, went to the river 
bottom for the purpose of gathering pecans. For some time 
they gathered the nuts which were in abundance and their 
merry laugh -ever and anon rang out through the gloomy 
forest. At last it was time to go home, their vessels were full 
and their exertions had' given them a keen appetite for their 
dinner the hour for which had now passed. The girls got 
their bonnets and buckets and the merry group emerged) from 
the bottom to the edge <of the prairie, but what a sight now 
met the eyes of those merry ones, the laughing voices were 
hushed and the cheeks which a moment ago glowed with 
health and gay spirits 1 now blanched and paled with terror. 
There, in a few yards of them, rode a band of wild painted 
Comanche Indians; the scourge of the Texas frontier. Es- 
cape was impossible. With a wild shout the Indians circled 
around them and all were soon captured and carried scream- 
ing away on the horses of the painted demons who dashed! 
up the valley towardJ their hunting grounds in the great 
west. When the children did not come home at the proper 
time the parents became uneasy and repaired to the pecan 
groves to search for them. No pen can describe the agony 
of those parents when they came to the spot where the 
capture had taken place. A bonnet here, an overturned buck- 
et there, and pecans scattered everywhere. Out in the prairie 
lay little Jimmie's hat. The ground was torn up by horse 
tracks and too well these pioneers knew what had become of 
their loved ones. No time was to be lost. Neighbors were 
notified, and' soon a party was on the trail of the daring red 
men. Loekharlt was furious and vowed vengence of the most 
direful nature as he spurred 1 madly on the trail. Putman was 
more cautious but not lacking in courage. He had f ought at San 
Jacinto. He advised the men to move cautiously and not rush 
into an ambuscade. The trail led up the river to the foot of 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



263 



the mountains and here it was last. The laist sign of tbe In- 
dians was seen 1 on 1 a sand' bar at the mouth of tbe Comal 
river where the town of New Braunfels now is. Andrew 
■Soweil who was one of the trailing party says they turned 
back here but against the wisbes of Lockhart who wanted to 
go on into the mountains. After the return a larger force 
was raised and once more went in pursuit. This time they 
came upon the Indians in their village in the mountains and a 
battle was fought which was disastrous- to the settlers, as 
they were greatly outnumbered. Lockhart was wounded 
and it was with difficulty that the men could get him away 
as he still wanted to fight. In 1840 a treaty was made with 
the Comanches in whichi Matilda Lockhart was recovered, 
and later on James Putman who at that time was about 16 
years of age and -as wild as anv Indian. He would not sleep 
on a bed or in a house, nor eat with a knife and fork. The 
oldest Putman girl became the wif e of a chief and lived and 
died a wild life among the Indians. 

"About 30 years after the capture of the children a 
man named Chenault who had been an Indian agent, moved 
to Gonzales from Missouri, bringing a lady with him whom 
he had bought from the Indians several years before. He had 
carried ber to his home in Missouri and when be came to 
Texas brought her with him as a member of the family. This 
was the youngest Putman girl. She could not remember her 
name but said the Guadalupe valley was strangely familiar to 
her. Her father, who was still alive, hearing of the circum- 
stance came to see her and by marks on 1 her bodjy identified 
her as his long lost child. How strange that she should be 
brought back almost to the very spot where sbe was captured 
thirty years before. James Putman lived for many years in 
Guadalupe county and died in Hays county in the early 
seventies. He married a widow Nash and bad one daugh- 
ter named Sarah. He said the Indians carried him all over 
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and also parts of Califor- 
nia. He saw them fight several battles with emigrants on 
the plains." , , 



264 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALAMO — TRAGIC SCENES 
OF INDIAN WARFARE AROUND SAN ANTONIO. 

Although the most populous and important town in the 
province and the Republic of Texas, San Antonio, being the 
extreme, and isolated, outpost of civilization in that direc- 
tion, was, from early times, and until a much later period 
than that of which we are now writing, greatly exposed to 
Indian forays. 

After the fall of the place and expulsion of the Mexican 
soldiery, in December 1835, many of its Mexican residents, 
gome of much worth and' respectability, left, crossing over 
the Rio Grande. Thus depleted in population, but little life 
appeared in San Antonio from the campaigns of 1835-36 till 
on the eve of opening the land] office and preparations for 
the survey of lands early in this year. These openings drew 
to the place various surveyors, holders of bounty warrants 
and head-right certificates, as well as many others, seek- 
ing either employment or adventure.* 

At that date bands of Comanches., all professing friend- 
ship, frequented the vicinity — and visited the town re- 
newing treaties, but at the same time protesting 
against surveyors exploring their country, marking the trees, 
and running off the game. One of the first surveying par- 
ties to go out, while on the Rio Frio, had some of their 
horses stolen by the Indians camped in the vicinity. Upon 
discovering and demanding the animals a fight ensued in 
which Mr. Campbell, the surveyor, was killed^ and 
Captain Cage severely wounded by a copper arrow in his 
cheek,** but narrowly escaped with his companions to town. 
This affair sufficiently demonstrated the necessity of larger 
and well armed parties in successfully prosecuting further 
work. 



♦ Among otherB appearing at San Antonio about this time and seeking employment as 
• surveyor, was a young man destined to perform a most important and meritorious ser- 
vice in the defense of the Texas frontier and to gain much renown as a fearless border 
chief and partisan leader— Jack Hays, the famous Texas Ranger. 

* *The copper arrow-head was skillfully extracted by the early and eminent Dr. 
Smithers of San Antonio— a soldier of Velasco in '32, who. with twc eompanions, was mur- 
dered at the Cibola Sulphur Springs, in one of the raids of 1842. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



265 



Accordingly, on t|he 21st of September, 1838, John C. 
(Jack) Hays, in the double capacity of surveyor and com- 
mander, left wit|i a force for the Leon, where they remained 
about a month, running three compasses and doing consider- 
able work without serious hindrances. 

About the middle of October another, but smaller, force 
was orgianized for work closer in. On the 18th of this month 
whilie camped at the Presidio crossing on the Leon, some 
seven miles from town, they were surprised by Indians and 
two of their number, Moses Lapham a soldier at San Jacin- 
to, and a Mr. Jones, of Bastrop. wer<e kliled. Mr. Earnest 
and others escaped on foot to town. "A Mexican named 
Padre Goaner (says Thrall) was scalped, but succeeded iB 
reaching the ci^y, where ho still (1878) lives."* 

At the time, District Court (Judge James W. Robinson 
presiding) was in session, from which cause there were more 
persons than usual in town. 

Hendrick Arnold, a disciple of Deaf Smith, took com- 
mand of a few men, went out to reconnoitre, and had a 
slight skirmish. Others were anxious to go, but some 
lacked horses. Major Valentine Bennett, as quartermaster, 
partly supplied this want, in so far that Oapt. Cage was 
soon enabled to leave in charge of nine others. A few more 
followed Cage on the Presidio road towards the scene of con- 
flict on the Leon. Time passed, and the house topsi in town 
were occupied by anxious persons scanning the west (for at 
that dlay the view was uninterrupted by bushes) for indica- 
tions of the anticipated engagement; and while so engaged 
a party of Indians, in plain view, passed on the west side of 
town, killing a Mexican cartman and his oxen. Frightened 
Mexicans occasionally rushed in with wild reports and the 
interest) became intense among those powerless to render suc- 



»"0n the same day, Francisco A. Ruiz and Nicolas Flores Ruiz were taken 
prisoners. Francisco Ruiz was well known to the Indians and that night one of the chiefs 
untied him and told him to escape. He now lives on the Medina River. Flores was prob- 
ably killed, as he was never heard of afterwards."— Thrall's "Pictorial History of Texas/* 
-free 457. 



266 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



cor. Among those who had gone out with Cage, or followed 
after, were Judge Hood,* Gen. Dunlap, (late of Tennessee) 
James Campbell, an Irishman, appropriately known from his 
volubility as "Talking" Campbell, — Bailey, — Lee, a 
young merchant from Houston, — 0 'Boyle, Robert Patton 
anid others whose names cannot now be given. On the way 
out, before reaching the Leon, the Indians appeared, the vol- 
unteers not yet being united, but in view of each other. Di- 
vided counsels prevailed. Some proposed occupying a grove 
not far off — ot]hers opposed. The enemy encircled them, but 
in doing so, Campbell, mounted on a fleet gray horse, broke 
for town, pursued by several Indians. Though closely pressed, 
he . outran his pursuers, and was the first messenger to 
report. Cage and 0 'Boyle dismounted at a tree and called 
on the others to do likewise; but they prefered fighting on 
horseback. Hood and Bailey charged through the Indians 
and then back to their comrades, in which the former was 
wound* d by an arrow. Bailey's gun then failed to fire and 
Hood had but one charge left. Cage and 0 'Boyle, on the 
ground, and Lee on horseback, were killed about this time, 
as were several others. Robert Patton was lanced in the arm. 
and his horse wounded. Finally the Indians openeid the 
way towards town, and the survivors, as their only hope, 
seized the opportunity of a race for life. Speed was their 
sole reliance. As they dashed forward the enettny closed in 
on their flanks and rear, and the chase only ceased as the 
survivors entered the town. Gen. Dunlap was laoced and 
his noible bay steed severely wounded. Some were killed' as 
the retreat began. A Mexican, naked and terribly wound- 
ed,- crawled in some time later. 

On the 20t!h Capt. Carras (or Carracas), with a company 
of Mexicans and Americans (Wm. H. Hargis being of the 
party) went out, gathered) up the remains of the ten un- 
fortunate settlers who had fallen and conveyed tfhem in. 
Coffins were improvised by Major Bennett, it being a time 



♦Judge Hood was killed by the Comanches in the Council House hand-to-hand fight 
an San Antonio, in the spring of 1840. 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



267 



when lumber was very scarce, and on Monday, Oct!. 21, 1838, 
after an eloquent address by Judge James W. Robinson, 
the deceased heroes were committed to earth in the Ameri- 
can cemetery adjoining the Campo Santo of the town. 



INDIAN TROUBLES IN EAST TEXAS — FIRST STAGES 
OP THE "CORDOVAN REBELLION/' 

July 1, 1838, Capt. Seguin wrote President Houston that 
a messenger had just arrived in San Antonio, who reported 
having seen two men, a German and. a Mexican, who had 
been killed! by Comanches, and were lying by the road! side 
four mile® from town. Seguin said that he was about to 
start with a company in pursuit of the Indians. In conclu- 
sion, he urged upon the President the necessity for better 
armed protection for the frontier. The powerful pushing of 
the frontier lane westward, with surveyors moving in ad- 
vance of it as avant couriers, was not the only cause that 
stirred the Indians to deadly action in 1838 ; another equal- 
ly potent one was the military policy adopted by the Mexi- 
can Government to keep alive its claim to Texas. It had in 
view the invasion and re-conquest of Texas by a Mexican 
army with the aid of the entire body of 'Texas Indians as 
allies. 

To secure their co-operation, agents were sent among 
them to represent that they would be given fee simple titles 
to all the lands they claimed if they would begin at once 
and actively wage ceaseless, and murderous war upon the 
whites. They ware told that it was folly to expect any- 
thing from the whites except expulsion, or extermination; 
and that if they stood 1 by Mexico, it would stand by them. 
The white people suspected in a general way what was go- 
ing forward, but the conception they ententadned wias so far 
short of the truth that they w re amazed at the extent and 
diabolism of the actual plot when it was disclosed' by papers 
captured 1 in the following year, under circumstamces that 
will be detailedf in the next chapter. , 

The following is a statement of part of the con- 



268 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



.tents of one of the pappus: A letter written by 
Vicente Cordova to Manuel Flores — and inserted here, 
for the reason that it renders more intelligible events 
that follow. The date of Cordova's letter is July 19, 1838. 
He saye that he had been commissioned by Gen. Filisola to 
visit the Indians and: induce them to become auxiliaries of 
the Mexican national army of invasion ; and) had! entered otn 
his duties by inviting a meeting of neighboring tribes. Con- 
tinuing, he says: * 'Being informed that you have been ap- 
pointed for the same purpose, I would like to know what 
preliminary action you have taken, and for you to advance, 
with such force as you may be able to command, lais far as 
you may judge proper * * * to hold with me verbal commun- 
ication in order that we may have, in our respective stations 
an understanding, * * * and that you will bring the pipe, 
of which I understand you are in possession, in order that 
the Indian chiefs may smoke it, of the Cherokee and other 
tribeis who have promised me to unite as soon as possible for 
action, and' who have, also, agreed that, in case our plan 
should be discovered in the meantime, they will commence 
operationis with the force we have in hand., it is highly de- 
sirable thai you should approach to give us, in isuch case, a 
helping hand." 

August 4, 1838, citizens of Nacogdoches who were in 
search of horses that had been stolen from them, found the 
animals in a Mexican settlement. On the way home, with 
their property, the white men were fired upon and one of 
their number killed. They pursued the murderers a short 
distance*; but coming into a large trail, returned' to town. 

August 7th, Capt. John Durst reported to Maj.-Gen. 
Rusk, commanding the Texas militia, that one hundred or 
more Mexicans were under arms and encamped on tthe An- 
gelina river. Capt. Antonio Manchaca who went to the camp, 
reported that there were 120 Mexicans and 25 Biloxi and 
Ionie Indians. 

Gen. Rusk issued requisition for men of the eastern 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



269 



militia brigade and, while waiting for them to assemble, sta- 
tioned a company of sixty volunteers at the lower crossing 
of the Angelina. On the 8th, President Houston who was in 
Nacogdoches, issued a proclamation ordering the Mexicans 
and Indians to disperse and to return to their homes under 
penalty of being declared enemies of the Republic. On the 
10th, it was learned that 300 Induans had joined tjhe 
Mexicans. On that day President Houston, received a 
communication from Vicente Cordova, Nat Morris, Joshua 
Robertson, Juan Jose Rodriguez, C. Morales, J. Santos Ooy, 
J. Vicente Micheli, J. Arriola and! A. Corda, leaders of the 
insurgents, in which they refused to obey the executive or- 
der and) made vague declaration as to their ultimate pur- 
pose. 

During the day Cordova broke camp and marched in 
the direction of the Cherokee settlement. Maj. Henry W. 
Augustin at the head! of a strong detachment, followed him, 
while Gen. Rusk with his main force advanced directly to- 
ward the Cherokee village. On reaching the Neches Saline, 
Gen. Rusk learned that Cordova's force had dissolved and 
the leader, with a few of the more desperate Cooshaties and 
Cherokees and some of his Mexican companions, had retreat- 
ed in the direction of the Kickapoo village in the north- 
eastern cornier of Anderson county. Rusk followed him 
there and, forty miles further on to the Killough settlements, 
where he abandoned the chase, there being no hope of over- 
taking the fugitives. 

Joined by! a few of the Kickapoos at their village, Cor- 
dova now made his way to the headwaters of tjhe Trinity, 
where he continued his fiendish machination*. 

Thus the accidental circumstance of the search for stolen 
horses, precipitated a series of events that spoiled his plans 
for 1838. No army of invasion was moving from Mexico. 
Not even Flores was at hand with a force to co-operate. 
Yet the fierce anger of his Mexican fellow conspirators at 
the Americans, forced him to act, and he did so boldly sod 
called upon the Cherokees to take the warpath. Those la- 



270 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



dians had a great deal at stake. They were, also, more than 
ordinarily intelligent. They saw that the emute was prema- 
ture, and would be a failure — they still hoped for justice 
from the American®. President Houston was in Nacogdoches, 
and they had unbounded faith in the recititude of his inten- 
tions, and trusted that he had power to give eff ect to them, 
hence they refused Cordova's overtures. 



DEFEAT OF THE KIOKAFOOS. 

In the meantime, taking advantage of the disturbed con- 
ditions in that section, the Kickapoos were depredating to such 
an extent as to call for prompt action. Accordingly, with a 
hastily collected company of 200 volunteers, General 
Rusk moved against them. Leaving Fort Houston on Oct. 
14th, he arrived in the vicinity of the Kickapoo town (in what 
ie now Anderson county) and at sunset on the following day 
made a furious attack. After an engagement of some fif- 
teen minutes the enemy fled and were hotly pursued for 
some distance. No official report of this fight exists, but 
it | is known I that eleven warriors were left dead on the field 
And presumably a much larger number were wounded. Rusk 
had eleven men wounded but none killed.* 



ROUTING THE COMANCHES. 

A few days later, on the 25th of this month, Col. John 
C. Neil with his force attacked a considerable party of Co- 
manches at the Jose Maria Village (afterwards the site of Fort 
Graham) in Young county. After a fierce and bloody battle, 
the Indians were defeated and fled, " leaving many of their 
warriors slain.' 9 The casualties to the Texans are not 
known. 

Such military demonstrations and summary dealings with 
the savages and Mexicans, at least served to overawe and 
prevent them from comsbiniaig in their raids. 



» Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, p. 107. 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 271 

The citizens of East Texas, with arms in their hands and 
emboldened, under Rusk and other brave leaders, had noth- 
ing to fear ; welcomed a challenge by the Indians to mortal 
combat, and were more than a match for their hated foes. 
But murders, such as the Hutchison massacre; the trag- 
edies in the Eden's settlement, and other atrocious affairs, 
occurring in the eastern part of t|he Republic about this pe- 
riod, chilled their hearts, not with a coward's terror, but an 
appalling one nevertheless, for thev realized that courage 
and superior numbers, arms and discipline, furnished no pro- 
tection against their occurrence. The frontiermen did not 
know but that, at an unexpected moment, death in its most 
appalling form, would obliterate aHl that they held dear. 



BUSK CHASES INDIANS ACROSS THE BORDER. 

In a dispatch from headquarters at Port Caddo, Dee. 
1, 1838, Gen. Rusk gave account of crossing into Louisiana 
and* compelling a large party of Caddo Indians to surrender 
their arms to the United States Indian agent at Shreveport 
and, agree to remain quiet until the existing danger of hos- 
tilities subsided. 

These Indians were to' be fed by the Texas government 
until their arms were returned to them. He said that until 
after his arrival with militia and this aictom had been taken 
by him, the people of Texas west of the border-line, believed 
that the Caddos intended to march through the settlements to 
a junction with tke prairie Indians, and there, in connection 
with them, turn back and murder and pillage. The white 
people abandoned their homes and assembled; in the forts 
for protection. 

It is difficult at this day to fully realize the excited and 
hostile state of the public mind in Texas in the latter part 
of 1838, with regard! to Indians, further than that it was 
such as to wholly neutralize every fact and argument that 
wag adduced in favor of any of them. 



272 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



LAMAR'S REIGN. 

The general election for President, Vice-President, mem- 
bers of Congress and other officers of the Republic occurred 
September 3, 1838. 

Mirabeau B. Lamar, James Collinsworth, Peter W. Gray- 
son, and Robert Wilson were rival candidates for the pres- 
idency. There were two well defined political parties — the 
Houston and Anti-Houston — that' crystalized during the year. 

The campaign was a very bitter one— so bitter that Gray- 
son shot and killed himself, at Bean's Station, Tennessee, and 
Oollinsworth leaped from a, steamer and drowned himself in 
Galveston Bay before the day of election. 

They were too sensitive and 'proud to withstand the mud- 
slinging and vilification thatj was indulged in as a matter of 
course in that day in Texas, 'and in the United States. La- 
mar received 6,995 votes and Wilson 252, — 300 were scat- 
tering. 

President Houston was not a candidate. The constitu- 
tion provided that the first President should hold office for 
two years and each of his successors for three years, and 
that no President should be eligible for election for the 
term next succeeding that for which he was chosen. 

Mirabeau B. Lamar, as President, and David G. Bur- 
net, as Vice-President, were inaugurated December 9, 1838. 

In his inaugural message, Lamar declared) that the only 
means by which Indian hostilities could be brought to an 
end were the extinction or total expulsion of United States 
Indians who were domiciled in Texas. He asked that im- 
mediate legislative action be taken for the establishment of 
a line of military posts along the frontier and the organi- 
zation and maintenance of a strong military force in order 
that the policy he declared might be given vigorous and im- 
mediate effect. 

He declared that the boundaries of the Republic would 
be defined and made good by the sword ; took ground 
against the annexation of Texas to the United States; far- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



273 



ored the establishment of a national bank; and spoke noble 
words in favor of popular education.* 

Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston was appointed Secretary 
of war December 13, 1838, and qualified December 16. 

Congress responded promptly to the recomendations of 
the President, as a majority of the members had been elected 
us advocates of the principles and policies be declared. 

It passed an act, approved December 21, that provided 
for a mounted regiment of 840 men rank and file to protect 
the frontier, and for the establishment of the line of posts 
proposed. The men were to be enlisted for three years, to be 
paid $16.00 per month and- be given a bounty of $30.00 in 
money and a certificate for land. 

An act approved December 29, provided for a corps of 
mounted rangers, to consist of eight companies of fifty-nine 
men (rank and file) each.** 

All spoils that were captured (except recovered property 
of citizens of "Texas) were to be divided among the captors. 
Troops who were already enlisted, under act of May 15, 1838, 
were to proceed forthwith to the Nueces. 

A few days later an act was passed and approved, that 
provided for a mounted regiment of 472 men to serve for six 
months. 

Despite all measures and every effort to keep the In- 
dians in subjection and to prevent or intercept their hos- 
tile raidfc, depredations and murders increased to an alarm- 
ing extent. The clouds of despair were gathering and soon 
hung heavy all along the frontier. As Gen. K. H. Doug- 
las wrote Secretary of War Johnston, on Dec. 30, 1838, "the 

♦ During his term fifty leagues of land were set apart for the establishment of a 
university and three leagues to each county for school purposes. 

* *The following number of men were to be stationed at the localities mentioned: At, 
or near. Red River, 56; At, or near, the Three Forks of *he Trinity, 168; at, or near, the 
Brazos, 112; at, or near, the Colorado, 112; at, or near, the San Marcos, 56; at, or near, the 
Cibolo, 56; at, or near, the Frio, 56; and at, or near, the Nuecea, 124. A 3trongly garri- 
soned post was to be established at the upper settlements on Red River. The regiments 
were to be divided into two battalions, one of which was to operate east of and the other 
west of the Colorado. A military road was to be constructed from the mouth of the Kia- 
mitia to the point where the regular highway from San Antonio to the Presidio de Rio 
Grande crossed the Nueces. 



274 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



affairs of the Texas frontier were never in so critical a con- 
dition." 

Thus the catalogue grows in volume and intensity, with 
tragic episodes that would extend many pages, did the lim- 
its of this volume permit. Tbht which follows, and especial- 
ly matters transpiring within the next two years — during 
President Lamar's turbulent reign — presents a still darker 
and sadder picture of pioneer life and border trials in Tex- 
as. And yet, to him who can see beneath the surface of 
history the mighty forces that are the soul of it, the records 
of 1838 are full of interest and food for pleasant reflection ; 
of interest because it exhibits the growth of a healthy and 
complex social orgaaization, and food for pleasant reflection 
for the reason that it justifies the belief that such growth 
ds normal under free institutions such as the pioneers and 
partiot fathers of Texas established and partially developed 
under such confusing, adverse and painful conditions.* 

♦ An important event affecting the affairs of the Texas Republic during this year 
was the death of Gen. John A. Wharton— an irreparable loss from the ranks of the great 
men of early Texas— a man whom Judge Burnett in a memorial oration pronounced "*he 
keenest blade on the field of San Jacinto." 

Another important matter was the creating of a navy for the Republic. Septem- 
ber 17, 1838, Samuel M. Williams entered into a contract for Frederick Dawson to furnish 
Texas with the new navy, provided for by act of November 4, 1837, Dawson to receive as 
payment two bonds of the Republic for $280,000 each. 




This is a photograph of the pistol that Euclid M. Cox, mortally wounded in the Bat- 
tle Creek Fight, sent home to his wife. 



CHAPTER XII. 



OND^TIPNS on the Indian frontier at the 
beginning of 1839 were particularly threat- 
ening. Since 1831 the United! States 1 gov- 
ernment had steadily pursued a policy of re- 
moving Indians from their ancestral homes 
in the " states" to the district beween the 
Arkansas, Red River and the False Wash- 
ita along the boundary line of Texas and 
Mexico. It was estimated that in a short 
time there would be concentrated on the 
frontiers of Texas 240,000 of these Indians, including- 
about 45,000 warriors, some of whom would be certain to make 
thieving and murderous incursions unless prevented. 

The Texas Indians were restless and most of them hostile. 
It was believed that the agricultural tribes located in the 
eastern part of the Republic were co-operating with the prai- 
rie Indians, and it was known that some sort of conspiracy 
was being hatched between the Mexicans and Indians to make 
a more united and determined effort to prevent extension of 
the frontiers into the Indian country and to retard settle- 
ment and, if possible, to make Texas untenable and undesir- 
able to its Anglo-American inhabitants. The Comanches were 
at war with the Lipans and Tonkawas. The latter circum- 
stance was a favorable one for the whites, as the Lipans and 
Tonkawas joined with them against the Comanches — the Li- 
pans for the most part pitching their camps within the set^ 
tlements, 




276 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



THE MORGAN MASSACRE. 

And now we will chronicle some of the events occurring 
in the course of border warfare history. The narrative of 
pathetic scenes immediately following are true as to details 
and not overdrawn as to extent of fiendish atrocity. The 
account of these atrocious crimes was prepared by John 
Henry Brown from data furnished' by surviving participants 
and first published in an issue of the old Texas Almanac 
more than half a century ago. We follow Brown in sub- 
stance : 

On the east side of the Brazos, near tjhe " Falls, "the Mor- 
gans and Marlins, somewhat intermarried, constituted sever- 
al families residing a few miles apart, some albove and some 
a little below the site of the present town of Marlin. There 
was a considerable settlement along the river for some 
twenty miles, but the country >beyond or above them was 
open to the Indians. The period to which reference is made 
was the winter of 1838-39, 

On Sunday night, the 1st day of January, 1839, a part 
of the families of James Marlin and Mrs. Jones, and the 
family of Jackson Morgan, were together, passing the night 
with the f amily of George Morgan, at what is now called Mor- 
gan's Point, six miles above the town of Marlin. The remain- 
der of the divided families were at the house of John Marlin, 
seven miles lower down the raver. John and James Marlin 
were brothers; the others of that name were their children. 

A little after dark the house of George Morgan was sud- 
denly surronndedi and! attacked by Indians, who instantly 
rushed in upon the inmates, giving them no time for defense. 
Old Mr. George Morgan and wife, their granjdlson, Jackson 
Jones, Jackson Morgan's wife, and Miss Adeline Marlin, a 
young lady of sixteen, were all tomahawked and scalped in 
the house within the space of a few miinuteis after the first 
alarm. Miss Stacy Ann Marlin (afterwards the wife of Wil 
liam Morgan) was severely wounded and left for dead. Three 
children were in the yard playing when the attack was made. 
One of these, Isaac Marlin, ten years of age, secreted him- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



277 



self under the fence, and there remained until the tragedy; was 
over. Another child, Wesley Jones, at once ran into the 
house, but seeing the Inddansi entering and tomahawking the 
inmates, ran out unobserved by the murderous demons, and 
was followed by Mary Marlin, another child. They both es- 
caped together. The wounded lady retaining consciousness, 
feigned death, but was not scalped a® all the others were. 
The Indians robibed the bouse of its contents and left. When 
they had gone, and! silence again reigned, the heroic child 
first mentioned, Isaac Marlin — his name should be immortal- 
ized — crept from his hiding-place, and entering the house 
carefully and silently, examined the bodies to find which 
were dead. His wounded sister, supposing him to be an In- 
dian, remained perfectly motionless until he had gone, when 
she crawled out of the house. Little Isaac then took the path 
leading to John Marlin 's, and ran the entire distance, seven 
miles, very quickly, — a swift messenger of death 1|o his kin- 
dred there assembled. Wesley Jones 'and Mary Marlin did 
not get in till daylight, and the wounded Miss Marlin not 
till noon the next day. 

As soon as little Isiaac arrived at John Marlin 'is house 
and narrated his pathetic story, that gentleman, his brother, 
James, Williami N. P., and Wilson Marlin, Jackson and Geo. 
W. Morgan, and! Albert G. Gholson, immediately hastened 
to the scene, andl found the. facts identical with the child's 
narration. Other relief arrived next day, and the dead were 
consigned to their graves amid the waitings of their grief- 
stricken relatives and friends. 



ATTACK ON MARLIN 'S HOUSE. | 

Ten days later, the Indians, about seventy in num- 
ber attacked the house of John -Marlin and his son 
Benjamin (whose descendants still reside in Milam couch 
ty) and of Jarett Menefee and his son Thomas. This 
time the whites were better prepared for defense. Tlhe In- 
dians charged upon the four men, who made a stout and gal- 
lant fight, killing seven Indians and wounding others with- 



278 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



out receiving any injury themselves. Tired of that kind of 
reception, the savages soon withdrew, carrying off their dead 
and wounded. When the attack was made, Menefee's negro 
man, "Hinchey," was at a short distance from the house, 
but failing to reach it in time, he left in doufole-quick time 
for the settlement® below, and made twenty-five miles in 
pretty fair saddle-horse time. "Hinchey" at once reported 
the attack, and a company was quickly gathered together, 
who lost no time in repairing to the scene of action, in order 
to relieve their besieged friends, but found the redskins 
had retreated, as before stated'. 



j BRYANT'S FIGHT AND DEFEAT. 

It was determined, however, after a discussion of the 
matter by those present, that they must pursue and fight 
the Indians, or abandon their homes and fall back into the 
more settled parts of the country. They chose the former 
alternative, and made their dispositions accordingly. The ef 
fective force available for pursuit was forty-eight men. 
Benjamin Bryant (of Bryant's Station, whose surviving fam- 
ily still reside in Milam county) was chosen to command. 

On the next morning Bryant's party took the trail of 
the enemy, and pursued, crossing the Brazos near Morgan's 
Point. On the west side they found a deserted camp with 
fresh signs, and about a mile out came upon a fresh trail. 
At the river they counted sixty-four fresh horse-tracks and 
a trail of foot Indians, which crossed the river. Seeing the 
prairie on fire below, they supposed it to be Marlin's house, 
and hastened back, without finding the enemy, and then 
halted' for the night. On the next morning, January 16, 
they started out again, and found that the Indians had been 
at the deserted houses twoj miles above and plundered 
them. Thence they traveled up six miles to Morgan '13 Point, 
and suddenly discovered the enemy in the open timber 
near a dry branch. The noted chief, Jose Maria, who was 
riding in front in perfect nonchalance, halted,slipped off his 
gloves, and, taking deliberate aim, fired at Joseph Boren, 



BORDER WARS OP, TEXAS. 



279 



who was a few feet in advance, cutting his coat-sleeve. Jose 
Maria then gave the signal for his men to fire, and the action 
commenced. Bryant ordered a charge, which was gallantly 
made, though the captain received a wound at the same in- 
stant, which accident called Ethan Stroud to the command. 

The Indians fired and fell back into the ravine. Simul- 
taneous with the charge, David W. Campbell fired at Jose 
Maria, the ball striking him on the breastbone, but failing 
to dismount him. Albert G. Gholson then shot the chief's 
horse, which died in the ravine. The Texans then charged 
up to the bend of the ravine and fired, when the Indians 
commenced retreating dawn the bed of the ravine towards a 
densely timbered bottom. Seeing this, a part of the whites 
rushed down below to cut Uhem off. This caused the 
enemy to return to the first position and renew the defense, 
by which time, supposing the day to be won, our men had 
somewhat scattered and were acting each for himself. The 
result was that when the enemy reopened the fire several 
were wounded, and confusion and disorder at once ensued. 
To remedy this, the men were ordered to retreat to another 
point some two hundred yards distant, in order to draw the 
Indians from their concealment. This unfortunate order, 
from the prevailing confusion, was understood by some of 
the men to be an unqualified retreat. Panic seized some of 
them, which being discovered by the wily Jose Maria, he 
gave the command and] charged in full force, making the 
welkin ring with hideous and exultant yells. Several of the 
whites fell, and the rout now became general. Without or- 
der, in utter confusion, and each man acting for himself, 
they were hotly pursued for four miles, their pursuers 1 deal- 
ing death and carnage among them. 

In the disaster some acts were performed which deserve 
mention. David W. Campbell, not at first observing the re- 
treat, was about being surrounded by the savages when the 
brave Captain Eli Chandler, already mounted, rushed to his 
relief and took him up behind him. Young Jackson Powers, 
missing his horse, mounted on a pony behind William Mc- 



280 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 

Grew, his arm being broken at the same moment, as he was 
letreating. His brother Wiiliam came up at this moment, 
mounted on a large horse, and requested him to leave the 
pony and ride behind him. Poor fellow ! he dismounted, but, 
from his broken arm and the restlessness of the horse, he 
was unable to mount before the Indians had rushed up and 
tomahawked him, his brother only leaving him just in time 
to save his own life. William N. P. Marlin, before the re- 
treat, was so severely wounded in the hip that he eouldi not 
mount, and was about being left, when David Cobb ran up 
Add threw him on his horse amid a shower of balls and 
arrow®. Wilson Reed, a daring fellow, an the retreat was 
knocked from his horse by the projecting limb of a tree, the 
enemy being close at hand, when he sang out in a half -mirth- 
ful tone, ' 'Oh, Lord, boys, Mary Ann is a widow!" but 
some brave fellow picked him up and carried him safely off. 
The loss of the whites in this fight was ten killed and five 
wounded. The loss of the Indians was about the same 
number; but they were greatly elated by their suc- 
cess,* and became more daiiag than ever until checked 
by that stubborn and destructive engagement, known as 
" Bird's Victory," in Bell county. 



FATE OF THE WEBSTER FAMILY. 

In January the family of James Webster and twelve 
men who were escorting them to their home in what is now 
Williamson county, were attacked by Comanehes on the San 
Gabrieil. The white men formed their wagons in a hol- 
low square, and fought from sunrise until 10 o'clock a. m., 
when the last of them were slain. Mrs. Webster and little 
daughter were made captives. She escaped With her child 



* Job© Maria, so lone: the dread of the frontier, but afterwards the most pacific and 
civilized Comanche chief on the government reserve, has always acknowledged that he 
was whipped and retreating- until he observed the panic and confusion among the Texans. 
Jose Maria visited Bryant's Station years afterwards and offered Bryant his pipe to smoke. 
Bryant insisted that Jose Maria should smoke first, as he had won the fight, and the old 
chief proudly followed the suggestion. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



281 



kearly two years later, andl reached San Antonio a few 
days after the Council House figiht. 

•During January, Ben and Henry MeCulloeh, Wilson 
Randle, David Henson and John Walfen, aceoinpained! by 
thirty-five Tonkawas, defeated a band af Comanches and 
Wacos on Peach Creek, in Gonzales countjy, killing five 
and wounding a considerable number. The only loss sus- 
tained by the attacking party was one Tonkawia killed. 

In the same month a company of land loeaters re- 
treated from Uvalde Canyon to avoid being surrounded by 
Comanches who threatened, to attack them. In doing so they 
were opposed by a small parity of Indians staitioned< at the 
mouth of the gorge, but charged and routed them, killing 
three or four, and rei*irned to San Antonio without loss. 



FAMOUS BIRD CREEK BATTLE. 

This bloody engagement ranks as one of the notable In- 
dian battles of Texas, anidi may be well termed a model 
fight between Rangers and Comanches. The narrative 
which follow® is believed to be substantially correct, having 
been carefully prepared from statements and notes 1 furnish- 
ed by participants and others of authority. 

On Sunday morning, May; 27, 1839, the intrepid Cap- 
tain John Bird, one of the early ranger chiefs of Texas, with 
a company of 31 rangers, well mounted and equipped, left 
Fort Milam at the ''Falls" of t|he Brazos, on a scouting ex- 
pedition against the depredating bands of Indians who were 
constantly making forays upon the unprotected! settlements 
around Fort Griffin on Little River, which was at that time 
on the extreme frontier of Texas in that direction) — the Bry- 
ants, Marlins, Morgans and a few others on the Brazos be- 
ing their nearest neighbors. Capt. Bird arrived at Fort Grif- 
fin at 1 O'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and) at once 
learned that Indians 1 hiaid been seen near the fort bu/t a few 
hours before has arrival. 

Without dasmounting, the rangers proceeded] to the 
point where the Indian® had been seen. After a hurried 



282 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



march of some five miles upon the freshly made trail, they 
suddenly canue upon 27 Comanehes, dismounted and busy 
Butchering buffalos. As the rangers charged' down upon the 
unsuspecting redskins they quickly mounted) and 1 fled in 
different directions, the rangers following hard after the 
main body. After a flight of some three miles, the Indians 
again came together and forming in battle array, confronted 
their pursuers, ready for a fight. The rangers again charged 
upon them and after a sharp skirmisll put the Indians to 
flight, pursuing them for several miles but without again 
overtaking or engaging them. 

The enemy having scattered in various directions and 
the horses of the rangers being considerably jaded, the 
chase was given up. But as the rangers 1 were returning to 
the fort, and just as they were emerging from a skirt of tim- 
ber on the south side iof a small stream., since called 
BircEs Creek, and at a point some seven miles northeast iofl 
the present town of Belton, they were surprised and' al- 
most surrounded by about forty Indians, who shot their 
arrows at them from every direction. The rangers dashed 
out of the ambush and made for a ravine some 600 yards in 
front, where, fortunately, there was a spring, which they 
succeeded in reaching, despite the determined efforts made 
by the savages to cut them off ; The Indians now retired to 
the crest of a hill about 300 yards distant!, and where a 
"council* of war" was held and "signal smokes" — the In- 
dian mode of telegraphing — sent up and answered from sev- 
eral directions. The little company of rangers now well 
knew the Indians would soon be reinforced and that fthe red 
devils would then swoop down upon them in large numbers. 
Orders were given and preparations were hurriedly made to 
defend their position, and, if finally overpowered with num- 
bers, to sell their lives as dearly as possible 1 — those must have 
keen critical moments. 

In about half an hour the rangers saw a large body of 
mounted Warriors rapidly approaching in the direction of their 
©onfederatjes, and in a few minutes the hail top seemed to be 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



283 



literally alive with painted' demons. Increased to about 300 
in numbers, and led iby the noted Comanche war chief, Buf- 
falo Hump, the Indians now arrayed themselves- in imposing 
battle order, and with some semblance of military display, 
while tihe chief, bedecked with his immense and grotesque 
buffalo hide war bonnet surmounted with horns, rode up 
and down the lines, giving orders and defiantly gesticulat- 
ing and pointing toward the enemy. The Indians were con- 
fident of victory^ The little band of rangers were cool and 
determined, but the odds were fearf*!. 

Raising the Comanche war whoop all along their lines, 
the savage red warriors charged down upon the whites in 
-the ravine, uttering the most unearthly and exultant yells 
that ever greeted the ears of mortals, and at the same time 
pouring in a regular deluge of arrows. The brave rangers 
were cool and steady and gave them a most deadly reception, 
causing a number to reel and tumble from their mounts, and 
the balance to retire to the hill top without carrying off 
their dead and wounded. Again the enemy charged, in bold 
order, this time advancing to within fifty yards of the rav- 
vine, but under the galling fire of the rangers, they were 
again forced to beat a retreat, leaving a number of their 
braves upon the field. Once more, but somewhat less exul- 
tant, they were led in a charge, to sustain loss and be forced 
back. 

Thus chargined and discomfited, the maddened red war- 
riors retired in a body from the hill top and out of sight — 
to council and plan for another and more effective attack. 
Meanwhile the little band of dauntless rangers were busy, 
comf orting their wounded, improving their position and pre- 
paring as best they could for another onslaught, which they 
well knew would be made. 

Ere long the Indians again appeared, this time in two 
circling companies, and immediately bore down and around 
in a fiercer attack upon the rangers than ever, this time clos- 
ing in from either side, determined to rout the little company 
of whites front their position and to annihilate them at all 



284 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



hazards. The strife now became fearful and deadly. The 
gallant little troop of rangers in the ravine fought for lif e r 
and) taxed their energies to the utmost. It was' indeed a ter- 
rible battle against fearful odds — victory trembled in the 
balance — t;he rangers despaired but were determined to fight 
till the last breath. The red warriors were loudly exhorted, 
and repeatedly charged almost to the brink of the ravine, 
but were as often forced back by the deadly aim of the rang- 
er rifles. The field was an almost open prairie, with but lit- 
tle to shield the contending fees against the shower of ar- 
rows, and the leaden hail which were incessantly being sent. 
The noble Captain Bird was killed 1 early in the fight, and six 
other rangers were killed or wounded. The remainder, now 
reduced to only 25 in number, and exhausted by the fierce 
and 1 protracted contest, seemed doomed to almost certain des- 
truction, when brave James Robinett, a young German, and 
upon whom the command now devolved, swore to his com- 
rades that he would kill the chief ini the next charge, at the 
risk of his own life. Robinett had not long to wait before 
the Indians again charged, led by their brave chief. In his 
full war toggery, and mounted on a splendid American horse, 
he presented a conspicuous mark. Taking deliberate aim 
Robinett fired, and, true to his vow, succeeded in killing the 
chief. His lifeless body was immediately surrounded by ten 
or a dozen braves, who bore it out of sight, leaving 
their now infuriated comrades to avenge his death, and 
for a time the battle continued, to rage, the rangers holding 
their position and successfully repulsing each furious assault 
Finally, night coming on, the savages sullenly retired 
to their hill top position — having sustained! fearful loss in 
both men and horses — Nathaniel Brookshire in an official re- 
port of this affair, May 31, 1839, says the supposed num- 
ber of Indians killed on the field was only thirty. Later evi- 
dence however proved that to be incorrect. The number slain 
was not less than fifty warriors. The rangers lost five of their 
number killed 1 — their lamented captain, and Privates Gales, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



285 



Nash, Weaver, and one otjher whose name has not been giv- 
en — two or three wounded. 

Exhausted, and fearing the Indian® lay in wait nearby, 
the rangers 1 remained under cover of the ravine till morning, 
when they mounted their horses which had fortunately been 
secured and held in the ravine, and ventured forth, hastily 
making their way back to Fort Griffin. The story of the 
sanguinary engagement and the fate of their brave com- 
rades was soon told. A runner was sent to Fort Milam for 
reinforcements, and with a rough coffin which bad been pre- 
pared, the fresh force repaired to the battle-ground. Captain 
Bird and his unfortunate comrades were placed in the huge, 
uncouth recaptacle and horne back by a detachment to the 
fort, where they were buried, whale the main force took up 
the trail of the enemy and followed in hot pursuit as far as 
"Stampede Creek" where, having halted for a short rest, 
their horses were stampeded about midnight, leaving the 
rangers afoot, which circumstance gave name to the stream. 

Old settlers itell of often visiting the scene of the Birds 
Creek battle; of gathering flint arrow points, and of view- 
ing numerous bullet holes in the scattering trees. But 
the battle ground is now enclosed in a farm, and all evidence 
of the desperate struggle has long since disappeared, save 
the little spring in the 'ravine which still bubbles forth its 
sweet, sparkling, waters, as on that memorable May day sev- 
enty odd years ago, when it slaked the thirst of the besieged 
rangers and cooled the fevered brown and crisping lips of 
their dying comrades — murmuring an eternal requiem to the 
memory of those who so nobly perished to protect others and 
thus aid in redeeming a fair land from savagery. The site 
of old Fort Griffin is yet known, but the exact resting place 
of the brave Captain Bird and his comrades has been lost. 
A more patriotic duty could not be preformed by the citizens 
of grand? old Bell county than to erect at some point a suit- 
able shaft to the memory of these fallen heroes; , 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



McCULLOCH'S PEACH CREEK FIGHT. 

About the first of MareF, immediately following the not- 
able "cold snap"* prevalent throughout southwest Texas 
during tjhe latter half of February, 1839, Ben McCulloch and 
Henry E. McCulloch, with Wilson Randel, David Hafi- 
son, John D. Waif in, and thirty-five Tonkawa warriors — 
under the immediate command of their trusty old chief, "Capt. 
Jim Kerr" (a name assumed through; friendship for pioneer 
James Kerr of DeWitt Colony, in 1826), left the Tonkawa 
village at the junction of Peach and Sandy Creeks, some fif- 
teen miles northeast of Gonzales, on a campaign tio. the moun- 
tains- — hoping to find in a winter camp and possibly rescue,, 
the Putman children and Miatilda Lockhart. 

In the morning of the second day out, andt some twenty- 
five miles higher up on the head waters of Peach] Creek, 
"they struck a fresh trail of foot Indians, bearing directly 
for Gonzales. This, of course, changed their plans. Duty 
to their threatened neighbors demanded that they should fol- 
low and break up this invading party ; for such inroads by 
foot Indians aknost invariably resulted in the loss of numer- 
ous horses, andi one or more — alas ! sometimes many^— -lives to 
the settlers." 

After a hasty pursuit of threle or four hours, the inva- 
ders, a party of thirteen Waco and Comanche warriors, were 
sighted, but quickly disappeared into a dense thicket bor^ 
dering a branch. As a last resort to dislodge or engage 
the enemy, the Tonkawa allies were stationed around the 
lower end of the thicket, with orders to intercept all retreat, 
while Ben and Henry McCulloch, witih Randel and Hanson, 
ventured into the ambuscade. "Slowly they moved, observ- 
ing every precaution till, one by one, each of the four had 
killed an Indian, and two or three others were wounded." 



*This destructive sleet was the heaviest and most prolonged ever known in that 
part of the country— continuing for ten or twelve days, while the ice and snow shielded 
from the sun,' lay upon the ground for a much longer period. Great trees were bereft of 
limbe and tops by the immense weight of ice, and bottoms previously open were simply 
choked to impassability by the fallen timbers. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



287 



Finally tlhe sutrvivors emerged into the branch, and protect- 
ed somewhat by aits banks, fled down and into a larger and 
almost impenetrable thicket. Thus foiled, and night coming 
on, the attack was not resumed. 

Though having lost one of their comrades in the figtht, 
the Tonkawas were elated over the victory, and after 
scalping the dead and dying Waco® and Comanches, cutting 
off their hands, feet, arms and legs, and fleecing strips of 
flesh from ttheir thigfcs and breast, they were ready and 
anxious to return to their village and engage in their usual 
cannibal-like and mystic war dance. This, of course, pre- 
vented, further operations, and here the expedition ended. 



COL. MOORE'S SA,N SABA FIGHT. 

Capt. John H. Moore, writing from LaOrange, March 10, 
made the following official report* of a battle fought with 
the Comanches February 15, 1839: 

"I herewith transmit the muster rolls of three volunteer 
companies which, in conformity to the act of Congress au- 
thorizing tine raising of volunteer companies for the protec- 
tion of the frontier, were organised on the 25th of Janua- 
ry last, at the upper settlements of the Colorado* and placed 
under my command to proceed against the Comanches on 
our northwestern frontier. 

"From this place we proceeded on the morning of the 
26th directly up the Colorado. On the 13th of February, 
our spies, who from the mouth of the Llano had been kept 
in advance, returned and reported that they had discovered 
an encampment or village of Comanches on a small 
stream called Spring Creek, in the valley of the San Saba. 

"On the succeeding day we marched about an hour un- 
der cover of the timber of the Colorado bottom. "We then 
deposited our packs and bag gage in a place of security and 
proceeded onward, st;ill seeking the cover of the timber and 
valley, to a place about ten miles from the village, where 
we remained until after sunset. 



♦ Army Archives in State Library. 



288 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



"After night, we proceeded to within a mile of the vil- 
lage, wfoetre we dismounted) and tied our horses in. ia valley, 
and having put eight Lapans on horseback with orders to 
stampede the enemy 's caballado, proceeded on foot to within 
three hundred yards of the town, still keeping our spies in 
advance. 

"The LaGrange company, under Capt. Wm. M. East- 
land, formed the right wing, the Bastrop company, Capt. 
Smithwiek, (the centre; and the Lipan's, under Castro, their 
chief, the left. 

"The attack was made after daybreak by marching 
Capt. Eastlaoid's company in advance, down between tbe 
timber and the village (whose skirts run parallel to> eacb 
other) for the purpose of having the timber in our reair and 
driving the enemy towards the prairie. "Wihen opposite 
the centre of the town we were discovered by the enemy, at 
which moment I ordered a charge, which was promptly obey- 
ed and carrieid to near the centre of the village, the men 
throwing open the doors of the wigwams or pulling them 
down and slaughtering the enemy in their beds. 

"It was now discovered that the opposite side, which had 
1>een supposed to have opened to the level prairie, was bor- 
dered by a meander of the bayou which formed a deep rut 
and secure place of retreat! into which the savages had fled 
and in which they bad! already rallied and formed for de- 
fense. At this time the darkness, which previously bad 
Been such as barely to permit us to aim with tolerable ac- 
curacy, became greater in consequence of the smoke tand, all 
our firearms 'having been discharged, it became necessary to 
retire for a moment to reload and 1 wait for the darkness to 
dispel, to enable us to renew the 'attack. The disorder 
which had resulted from the eagerness of the men was 
another cause which rendered this movement necessary. 

"We had! barely time to form and reload when the ene- 
my changed us iu front and on both i'laols to within a few 
steps, which attacks were repeated at short intervals until 10 
Q 'clock a. m., after which the firing from the enemy con tin- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



289 



ned, but from a considerable distance. Ten men were now 
dispatched] by way of the bayou to reconnoitre, who return- 
ed soon after and reported the enemy very numerous. We 
continued in our position until half after 11 o'clock, when 
the enemy ceased firing, at which time, having abandoned 
the hope of being able with so few men to force them from 
the strong position they occupied, I ordered litters to be 
prepared for our wounded 1 , and soon after retired to the place 
at which we had left our horses. In, fifteen or twenty 
minutes after our arrival *at this place we were surounded 
by a large body of the enemy, who I believe were between 
300 and 500 in number, who immediately opened a 
fire on us, but this was soon silenced, and a white 
flag (the same presented to them last summer alt the seat of 
government by the President, Sam Houston) approached, car 
ried by a woman, accompanied by a man. A parley ensued 
in which she stated that they bad five white prisoners ; one 
a woman about middle age, understood to have beem captur- 
ed on the Brazos river; a, girl about fifteen years of age, 
supposed to be the daughter* of one of our company, An- 
drew Lockhart, captured on the Guadalupe ; the other three 
children, captured at the same place a short time since. This 
informaticn, I believe, was given because they were under 
the impression that we had some of their prisoners which 
they wished to exchange for, as some prisoners had been 
taken by the Lipans which they killed or otherwise disposed 
of without advice from me. They also made some statements 
relative to their great numbers which were constantly increas- 
ing and the co-operation of the Shawmees who were near, to 
which was replied ' Our numbers are small ; come on. ' 

"The attack was not repeated. The number killed on 
the part of the enemy it was impossible to know, but must 
have been very considerable. 

"Our men were furnished with about three shots each, 
which, during the first attaick upon the village, were dis- 
charged with great accuracy at only a tew feet distance 



♦ Matilda Lockhart. 



290 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



and in many instances by placing the muzzle against the ob- 
ject. Add; to this their exposed position in their repeated! at- 
tacks 1 upon us and the unerring accuracy of our riflemen, 
justifies the belief that their loss must have been very (great. 
I J. supposing their loss to have been thirty or forty killed 
and fifty or sixty wounded, I make am estimate much 
below what I believe to be correct. Loss on our side,; killed, 
none ; mortally wounded, one— since died ; slightly wounded, 
six. We also lost a considerable number of horses, in all — 
including those which had previously died from various caus- 
es — forty -six. 

"One of our men, Mr. Wilson, from Lagrange, was acci- 
dentally wounded on our way up and dispatched homeward 
with two men ; since died. Our force in the engagement con- 
sisted only of sixty-three white men and sixteen Indians — to- 
tal, seventy-nine. 

"Taken by the Lipan Indians; ninty -three horses and 
mules, only forty-six of which have been received here. 
Much credit is due to Captain W. M. Eastland and 1 Lieut. 
N. M. Bain, of the Basttrop company, and Adjutant Wm. 
Bugg, for strict and prompt obedience to orders and their 
general officer-like conduct, and to the men and officers in 
genera.! for their bravery on the field: of battle and! their 
subordination and good conduct." 



MURDER OF CAPT. COLEMAN'S WIDOW AND CHILD- 
REN—COL. BURLESON ENGAGES THE INDIANS. 

Col. Burleson in an official report to Gen. Albert Sidney 
Johnston, writing from Bastrop county, says: "Immedi- 
ately after my return home, I was informed of a body of 
Indians having been seen in tihe Big Prairie on Saturday, Feb- 
ruary 22, fifteen or twenty miles from Bastrop, supposed to 
be Northern Indians' — i. e. Caddos, Wacos and Keeehies. On 
Monday following, about 10 o'clock a. nr., they attacked the 
house of the widow Coleman, twelve miles above Bastrop. 
They attempted to cut off a man and a boy from the house, 
who were plowing in the field and who, at sight of them, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. , 291 



broke for asm adjoining thicket at>d made good their escape. 
In the meantime a party of the Indians firedi at Mrs. Cole- 
man, who was at work in the garden fifty paces distant 
from the house, and) slightly wounded her in the neck with 
an arrow. She fled with all speed for the house andi suc- 
ceeded in reaching it. At the time of her entering the 
house there was in the room her oldest son, about twelve 
years of age, and three other small children. With the as- 
sistance of the boy, she was enabled to bar the door. The 
Indians followed her to the house andl forced the door open 
wide enough to admit a man. They were fired upon by the 
boy, who killed one dead' on the spot and is supposed to 
have wounded another. In attempting to defend the pas- 
sage, the boy and Mrs. Coleman were killed. The remain- 
ing three children, who were at the time in the 
room, crawled under the bed. 

"The Indians, havinig received so warm a reception, 
desisted. * * * (They succeeded in cutting off a boy child 
from the house and carried him off captive) . 

"Tthe Indians at the same time attacked and plundered 
the house of Dr. Robertson, situated about two hundred 
yards from the former. Fortunately, at the time the doc- 
tor's family was absent, or they would have shared 
the f ate of Mrs. Coleman, as there was no white person on 
the premises to give themi protection. The Indians took and 
carried off from the latter place one negro; woman and four 
children, one old man, and a boy. 

"A party of fifty men from above Bastrop went im- 
mediately in pursuit and overtook them twenty-five miles 
north of the Colorado, where a skirmish took place. The 
Indians having advantage of position caused the whites to 
.fall back about three miles, with the loss of one man, at 
which place I fell in with thirty men. I immediately went 
in pursuit and overtook them ; in the meantime, the Indians 
having changed their ground for a more advantageous po- 
sition. On discovering me, they took a stand. I attacked 
them at about 1 o'clock p. m. I continued to pick them off 
at every opportunity until dark. The old negro man was 



292 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



found on the battle groundl after night, witih nine arrows 
*hot into him; isupposed to have been Left for dead. He says 
he saw several killed; say thirty. From the quantity of 
blood seen on the ground, I am induced to believe tjbat the 
above number is not an over-estimate. Our loss in the last 
attack was two killed and! one wounded, who has since 
died. 

"I remained encamped on the ground until next morn- 
ing, and found that tflue Indians had left several guns, 
bows and arrows, all their camp equipments, one mule 
and several horses. 

"I ordered, without delay, Capt. Billingsley, with 
thirty men, to follow on their trail , whiclh be did three 
miles and found that they had dispersed to avoid further 
pursuit. 

"Since the above took place there !has been no more de- 
predations) committed on this frontier, except by some 
thieving parties. It is confidently believed that the Indians 
will renew hostilities on this part of the frontier early this 
spring. 

"I request that those officers who have accepted their 
commissions and who are destined to recruit for the First 
Regiment of Infantry "West of the Brazos, to be sent to such 
points as in your judigiment are most suitable for that pur- 
pose, until I shall come down to Houston, which will be in 
about three weeks." 



THE CORDOVA REBELLION. 

Our historians have not attached due importance to the 
motives of what they are wout to term this "strange" out- 
break and the incidents of its quelling. Previous to 1836 
the town and County of Nacogdoches contained a majority 
of Mexican citizens. These people had made small settle- 
ments in various parts of this then immense terri- 
tory. Here, too, resided a large number of Cherokee and 
associate bands of Indians, who properly belonged in the 
Indian Territory and under the jurisdiction of the United 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



293 



States. They had been permitted, it seems, to occupy those 
lands as tenants at will, butt the Mexican Government while 
maintaining friendly and favorable relations with these In- 
dians, had studiously avoided granting them anything in 
the shape of title. 

Although Texas had) declared her independence and 
bravely won her liberty on the sanguinary field of San 
Jacinto in one of the most decisive battles of ancient or 
modern times — driving the enemy beyond her (borders and 
concluding an honorable treaty of peace with the .captive 
General and President, Santa Anna — Mexico never willingly 
relinquished claims to her lost province, and for nearly a 
decade, during which time the Lone Star Republic heroically 
maintained her proud position as one of the principalities of 
the world, a predatory and guerilla-like warfare was kept 
up against the more exposed border settlements of Texas. 

One of the principal and most feasible schemes was to 
send emissaries through the country with instructions to 
arouse and) incite the Indians to hostilities and open rebel- 
lion. Yo/akum says: ''Previous to> the French attack at Vera 
Cruz, and the Civil wair in Mexico, that Government had 
commenced a system, which, if it had been carried out ajs 
was intended, would have been most disastrous to Texas. Its 
object was to turn loose upon her all the Indian tribes up- 
on her borders, from the Rio Grade to Red River." Of 
these facts the Texas Government received undoubted evi- 
dence a li'tjtle later as will be seen. 

At Nacogdoches early in August, 1838, it was found 
that a motley company of about 150 citizens, headed 
by Vincente Cordova an early, intelligent and some- 
what influential Mexican resident of the settlement, had 
secretly taken up arms and encamped on the west bank of 
the Angelina. On learning these facts a proclamation was 
issued to the malcontents requiring them to return to their 
homes and lay down their arms, under the penalty of being 
declared enemies of the Republic. 

To this proclamation the rebel leaders made the follow- 



294 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ing bold and defiant reply: — ' 'The citizens of Nacogdoches, 
being tired of the unjust treatment, and of the unsurpation 
of their rights, can do no less than state that they are em- 
bodied, with arms in their hands, to sustain those rights, 
and those of the nation to which they belong. They are 
ready to shed the last drop of their blood ; and declare as 
they have heretofore done, that they do not acknowledge 
the existing laws, through which they are offered guaranties 
(by the proclamation) for their lives and properties. They 
only ask that you will not molest their families, promising in 
good fath to do the same in regard to yours. 

Vincente Cordova, A. Cordova, 

Nat Morris, C. Morales, 

J. Arriola, Joshua Robertson, 

J. Vincent Micheli, Juan Jose Rodrigues. 

J. Santos Coy, and others. 
August 10, 1838. 

By this time other Mexican adherents with some 300 
Indians and negroes had joined the enemy, augment- 
ing their force to about six hundred, when they set out on 
thedr march, in the direction of the Cherokee nation. Mean- 
time General Rusk had made an urgent and immediate 
requisition for men and a considerable force of volunteers 
was soon collected. Directing Major Augustin with 150 men 
to follow the trail, Gen. Rusk with the main force marched 
rapidly, land more direct to the headquarters of Chief Bowles, 
expecting to intercept and engage the enemy at that 
point. l3ut the enemy had warning, no doubt, of these 
movements, and on arriving at the Saline it was found they 
had disbanded and dispersed, the insurgent leader and a 
few of his followers having hastily fled westward, to the 
wild tribes of the upper Trinity and Brazos, where they re- 
mained until the following spring, visiting and mingling 
with these several tribes and endeavoring with presents and 
promises to incite them to open hostilities, and encourage- 
ing them to wage a relentless war of extermination against 
the Texans: to burn their houses, kill their cattle, steal 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



295 



ihfcir horses and to lay waste the settlements; and for all 
of wTiich, besides the spoils, they were promised aid and 
protection from the Mexican Goveraniemt and fee simple 
rights for all time to come to the respective territories 
Ubey then occupied. At the same time a regular cor- 
respondence was carried on through secret agente and 
discrete messengers with Commandant Canalizo as well as 
Manuel Floreis — charged! with diploimatic duties towards the 
Indians of Texas — at Matainoras, and pilans were being dis- 
cussed and perfected for carrying out the devilish designs of 
a concerted and general border warfare of rapine and 
murder against the settlers of Texas. To this end and look- 
ing to a better and more definite understanding and ar- 
rangement of plans, Cordova urged agent Flores to meet and 
coinfer with him at his redezvous in tbe Indian country. 



CORDOVA'S DEFEAT. 

Early in 1839 Gen. Canalizo succeeded Gen. Filisola as 
commander at Matamoras. 

Wishing to confer with the new military chief, Vincente 
Cordova left his lair on the upper Trinity in Masrch and 
started for the Rio Grande, accompanied by a force of 
seventy-five men — Mexicans, Indians, and negroes. 

His camp was discovered at the foot of tbe mountains 
north of, and not far from Austin, and the news was con- 
veyed to Col. Burleson at Bastrop. 

At the bead of <eighty men, be went in pursiuit and 
overtook the enemy on the 29th in an oipen boidy (of post- 
oaks about six miles southeast of Seguin and dismounted 
a portion of his men, who opened fire from behind trees. 
Cordova formed his followers, also using trees for protection 
and sought to stimulate them to determined and successful 
resistance. They stood their ground for awhile, although 
the Texans moved nearer and nearer to them, pouring- in 
a steady and telling rifle-fire, but broke into pieces and fled 
when Burles'on'is Colorado volunteers leaped into- the open 
and charged among them. The pursuit that followed ex- 



296 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



tended to the dense jungles of Guadualupe bottom, where it 
was discontinued as (twilight deepened into dark. 

Burleson suffered! no loss in killed, but several of his 
men were wounded. After the fight, he moved six miles up 
to Seguin, to protect the few families living there. 

Cordova retreated during the night. iStarting east of 
Seguin he moved northward as far as the present town of 
New Braunfels, crossed the Guadalupe, and them bore to 
the north andi passed north of San Antonio to the Nueces 
where pursuit of him> was abandoned by Capt. Matthew 
Caldwell and his company of rangers and a few citizen vol- 
unteers who had picked up his trail. Prior to the chase, 
Caldwell's rangers were scattered in several camps, scouting. 
Cordova came upon one of these detachments north of Se- 
guin, and wounded three men — a circumstance that was im- 
mediately reported to Caldwell who concentrated his forces 
and went in pursuit. 

Ignorant of what had transpired and desirous to meet 
and confer with Cordova, wherever he might be fiound — on 
the upper Brazos, Trinity or elsewhere — Manuel Flares, with 
an escort of about thirty Mexicans and Indians, supplies, am- 
munition, and official communications to, and instructions for 
contemplated Indian allies, set forth from Matamoras in the 
latter part of April and traveled into Texas along a route 
different from that of Cordova's retreat and hence, missed 
him and got into a trap. 

He traveled slowly, crossed the road between San An- 
tonio and Seguin, May 14 ; crossed the Guadalupe at the old 
Nacogdoches ford (at the site now occupied by New Braun- 
fels) May 15, and proceeded to a point on the San Gabriel, 
in the edge of Williamson county, north of where the town 
of Austin was established later in the year, and wasi attacked 
there and killed and his force defeated and scattered. Two 
of his men were killed and nearly all of those who escaped 
were wounded. 

He displayed great coolness and bravery in the skirm- 
ish however, and fell sword in hand, while trying to en- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



297 



eoJurage Shis men to) stated to their arms. 

Prior to the engagemient with Cordova, Maj. "Walters 
was directed to raise two companies of sax month 's men and 
occupy the Neches Saline so as to prevent communication be- 
tween the Cherokees and prairie Indians and 1 afford protec- 
tion to settlers. The Saline was claimed as part of the prop- 
erty of the Cherokees. Chief Bowles notif ied Maj. Walters 
that its occupancy would be resisted by force of arms. That 
officer, acting on the advice of the Texasi Indian agent, Mar- 
tin Lacy, did not make the attempt, and crossed to the west 
bank of the Neches and established a camp. 

The facts were communicated to Gen. Albert Sidney 
Johnston, Secretary of War; and to be prepared for any 
emergency, he directed Col. Burleson, who was collecting a 
force on the Colorado' to operate against other Indians, to 
march lower down and hold himself in readiness to enter the 
Cherokee country on the shortest notice. 



EXPULSION OF THE CHEROKEES 

In May, President Lamar addressed a letter to Chief 
Bowles in which he said that the Houston-Forbes treaty 
had never been recognized and never would be, and that 
there should be no division of sovereignty in Texas. He said 
that whatever equitaMe claims the Cherokees may have 
ever possessed had been effaced by murders and robberies, 
by furnishing arms and supplies to prairie Indians, and by 
the treacherous and murderous coalition entered into with 
Cordova and other enemies of Texas. Alluding to Bowies' ac- 
tion with regard to Maj. Walters, he sa'id that officer had 
been ordered again to take the post at Saline. Continue- 
ing, he said: "I deem it to be my duty * * to tell you * * 
that the Cherokees are permitted at present to remain 
where they are only because this governmnft is looking for- 
ward to the time when some peaceable arrangement can be 
made for their removal without shedding blood; but that this 
final removal is contemplated is certain, and that it will be 
effected is equally so. Whether it will be done by friendly 



298 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



negotations or by the violence of war, must depend upon the 
Cherofcees themselves. If they remain at home quietly and 
inoffensively, without murdering our people, stealing their 
property or giving succor and protection to our .enemies, they 
will be permitted to remain in the undisturbed enjoyment of 
their present possessions until Congress shall be able to make 
some final arrangements satisfactory to both parties for 
their return to their own tribe beyond Red River. But 
if, listening to the suggestions of bad men, equally the 'ene- 
mies of the red man and the white, they shall pursue such 
•a course of conduct as to jeopardize the lives and property 
of our citizens, or to destroy the sense of security essential 
to the happiness and prosperity of our frontier, the: inevit- 
able consequence will be prompt aud sanguinary war which 
can terminate only in their destruction or expulsion." 

He urged them to show that they were friends and wait 
until the next Congress met and he would ask it to act so 
liberally toward them, a.s to leave the Cherokees and white 
people lasting friends. Continueing he said: 

"If we were to give you a 11 you ask — if this govern- 
ment were to acknowledge you as a free, sovereign and in- 
dependent power to the fullest extent — your eondiition would 
not be the least improved by it. You could not live, in peace 
w.th our people. You would be subject to perpetual and un- 
avoidable annoyance laindi would have finally to sell out and 
leave the country. Surrounded, as you soon would be, by a 
strong population and daily harassed by bad men ever ready 
to take advaintaige of your ignorance or weakness, what se- 
curity would you have for any of your rights? What redress 
of wrong? There would be iiore except the honor of this 
government. You would be powerless and have to rely up- 
on the magnanimity of Congress. Then, why not rely upon 
it now? This government has no desire to wrong the In- 
dian, or shed] his blood'; but, it will not hesitate to adopt 
the most vigorous and decisive measures for the deif eaise of 
its rights and the protection of its own people." 

After several papers captured from Filores were laid 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



299 



before the President and his cabinet, steps were taken to 
compel the departure of the Cherokees from Texas, with 
the least possible delay. 

The Houston Telegraph of June 19, contained an editorial 
saying that the time hadi arrived for severe chastisement of 
the Indians who had lurked "like spirits of darktoess on the 
borders" and who had "construed forbearance initio weak- 
ness and indulgence into timidity." After alluding to the 
Houston-Forbes treaty of 1836 with the Cherokees, the ar- 
ticle continues: 

"We have neither time nor patience to discuss that 
treaty. It has never been ratified — has received no sanc- 
tion except from the inexplicable fatuity of the commis- 
sioners who made it. To confirm it now would: inflict irre- 
parable injury upon Texas, and positive, palpable injustice 
on many of her citizens. The proposition is therefore idle. 

"* * The Cherokees are, and always were, unwelcome 
intruders .among us. If they will not return peaceably to 
their original tribe, it will become our duty — now that their 
stealthy miachinationsi with Mexico have been.fully discovered, 
to compel their retirement and perpetual alienation) from 
the country * * * . , 

" The Cherokees have long been a source of inquietude 
and distrust to our eastern brethren. During the invasion 
of '36, the proximity of those wily savages to his homestead 
restrained many a strong hearted Red Lander from the field 
of battle, and kept him an idle aoi'd unwilling spectator of 
his country's struggle. Their insidious connection with Mex- 
ico, antd their secret intrigues with the paltry tribes of the 
prairies, have already cost us much blood and suffering 
* * *. There should! ibe an end put to these things." 

Col. Burleson was ordered to increase his force to 400 
men and to march into the Cherokee country, which he did, 
crossing to the east side of the Neches July 14, where he was 
joined by the regiment of Col. Landrum, composed of volun- 
teers from Harrison, Shelby, Sabine and San Augustine 
counties. Gen Rusk was already on the ground with ithe 



300 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



Nacogdoches regiment and encamped near the Cherokee vil- 
lage. 

Douglass despatched Capt. Kimbro's company of San 
Augustine volunteers to the village of the Shawnee® to de- 
mand the surrender of their gun-locks to enforce neutrality. 
They were promptly delivered. 

Vice-President, David G. Burnet, Thomas J. Rusk, J. W. 
Burton, James S. Mayfield and Secretary of War, Gen. Al- 
bert Sidney Johnston (the latter of whom was appointed at 
the instance of Bowles), as commissioners for Texas, were 
for several days previous to July 15 engaged 1 in conferences 
with the Cherokee chiefs, trying to effect an amicable agree- 
ment.* They had been instructed to allow a fair compensa- 
tion for improvements, payment to be made partly in money 
and partly in goods; but were not authorized to stipulate 
for payment of the Cherokees for their lands. 

At noon July 15, the commissioners eauie into camp and 
announced their failure to negotiate a settlement. 

The troops were immediately put in motion and pro- 
ceeded to the Cherokee village, under instructions not to fire 
until the Indians had been summoned to accept the terms; of 
the government. 

It was found that the Cherokees had retreated some 
hours before to a strong position near a Delaware village, 
five or six miles 1 distant. 

The Texas army followed them. The Indians opened fire. 
The engagement began late in the afternoon. The Indians 
were beaten. 

Another battle followed the\ next day near the Neches, 
in which the Indians were hopelessly defeated and Chief 
Bowles* was killed. The Cherokees fled from the country 



♦ Official report of Secretary of War. 

*■ * Bowles was the son of a Scotch father and Indian mother. He was a man of un- 
usual sagacity. It is said that he advised the Indians to accept the best terms they could 
get from the whites, but they refused to be guided by his advice, whereupon he told them 
that he would live or die for them as fortune might determine, and exhorted them to fight 
bravely. . During the last battle he could be repeatedly heard encouraging them, and more 
than once urging them to charge. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



301 



after these affairs. Parties of Uhem returned from time to 
time afterwards and committed murders and depredations 
alone or in conjunction with other Indians. Thomas J. 
Rusk and James S. Mayfield, as commissioners, entered into 
an agreement under which the Shawnees accepted terms of 
the government and left the country. 

In the battle with the Cherokees at the Delaware village, 
Vice-President Burnet, Adjutant General McLeod, General 
Johnston, and Major David B. Kaufman were among the 
wounded. 

Brig. Gen. K. H. Douglass, commanding the Texas army 
under date of "Headquarters, Camp Carter, 16th of July, 
1839, ' ' made the following official report toi Gen. A. Sidney 
Johnston, Secretary of War: 

"On yesterday), the negotiations on the part of the com- 
missioners having failed, under your orders the wliole force 
was put in motion towards the encampment «af Bowles on 
the Neches. Col. Landman crossed on the west side of the 
Neches and up the river. The regiments under Col. Burle- 
son and Rusk moved directh to the camp of Bowles, on 
reaching which it wats found to be abandoned. Their trail 
was ascertained, and a rapid pursuit made. About six miles 
above their encampment, in the vicinity of the Delaware vil- 
lage, at txie head of a prairie, they were diseoviened by the 
spy company under Capt. Carter and a detachment of aibout 
twenty-five from Capt. Todd's company led by Gen. Rusk. 
The enemy deployed from the point of a hill. Gen. Rusk 
motioned for them to come on. They advanced and fired 
four or five times and immediately eccnpiedi a thicket and 
ravine on the left. As we advanced, the lines were imme- 
diately formed and the action became general. The ravine 
was instantly charged and flanked on the left by Col. Burle- 
son with a pafrt of his regiment. The rest of Col. Burleson's 
regiment was led by Lieut. Col. Woodlief; a portion of Gen. 
Rusk's regiment charging at the same time, and another 
portion took position on a point or hill to the right and 
drove a party, who attempted to flank us, froan that quarter 



302 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



— thus instantly driving the enemy from.the ravine and thick- 
et, leaving eighteen dead on the field that have been found 
and carrying off, as usual, their wounded ais wias tseen by 
many of our men. Our loss in the engagement was two killed, 
one wounded mortally, and five slightly. 

"Col. Landrum was not able, having so much further to 
march, to participate in the engagement, but has been or- 
dered to join us this morning. All behaved so gallantly, it 
would be invidious to, particularize. The action commenced 
about half an hour before sundown, which prevented a pur- 
suit. Most of their baggage was captured; five kegsi of 
powder, 250 lbs. of lead, many horses, cattle, corn and other 
property." 

The action of July 16, began by Gapt. Carter's spy com- 
pany being fired upon. Col. Burleson, with the companies 
of Capts. Jordan and Howard of his regiment, advanced 
briskly to the support of .darter and drove the enemy's force 
in front to a ravine and thicket where the main body of the 
Cherokees were posted in a very strong position. Burleson's 
loss wa& one man killed! and! seven horses wounded. 

Col. Rusk, leading the cojmpanies of Capts. Tipp and 
Todd, land followed by the second battalion of his regiment 
(companies of Captts. R. "W. and Madison Smith) under Lt. 
Col. James Smith, moved up to the support of Burleson 
and took position as the center of the Texas line. Burleson 
obliqued to the left and engaged the enemy's right. Capts ; 
Lewis and Ownsby of the other battalion of Burleson's reg- 
iment moved to the right of Rusk and in front of the -ene- 
my 's left wing. 

Spirited firing continued for an hour and a half — the 
ChJerokees evidently making a serious effort for victory. 
Then Gen. DougLass ordered a simultaneous! charge, which 
was gallantly executed. The enemy were driven with 
slaughter for half a mile and took refuge in a swamp in the 
Nfeches bottom. They were again charged, Lt. Col. Wood- 
lief leading tlhe right,, Rusk 'the center and' Burleson the 
left.. This time they offered no opposition, but broke and 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



303 



ran in every direction away from their assailants. Gen. Doug- 
lass then halted his men and ordered Ithiem to collect the 
wounded and form on high ground. According to his esti- 
mate, (the Cherokee force consisted of 700 or 800 warriors. 
Their own report placed their loss in killed and wounded at 
100. The Texan lossi was two killed and thirty wounded. — 
three mortally: Maj. H. W. Augustin, Jno. S. Thompson, and 
Jno. Ewkig. 

Gen. Douglass says that Capt. Jordan was 1 wounded early 
in the action and, while he was on the ground, continued to 
command his men. The General favorably mentions Drs. 
Booker, Brown and Towers and the other surgeons, Capt. 
Smith, Lieut. Corbin, Adjutant General McLeod, Brigadier 
General Snively, volunteer aides Davis and Morbett and Maj. 
Sturgiss and Capts. Milroy am d Patton of has staff, and 
others. 

He says, "Rusk and Burleson behaved with that gal- 
lantry and coolness that has so often distinguished them on 
the field of battle in Texas." 

Also: "Important benefits are likewise' acknowledged 
to have been derived from the active exertions of the Secre- 
tary of War and Vi«e -President, who were on the field in 
both engagements, and behaved in such a manner as reflect- 
ed credit upon themselves." 

On the morning of the 18 th, the wounded were con- 
veyed to Fort Lamar by Capt. Todd 1 in command of a detail 
of eighty men. 

The Texas army remained in camp for twa day si — until 
joined by the force under Col. Landrum which had been ad- 
vancing up the east side of the Neches. 

On the 21st the army went in pursuit of the enemy. 

Gen. Douglass says: "The trail of the Indians bore 
westward to the headwaters of the Sabine, which was fol- 
lowed and brought us about 4 o'clock in the evening to 
some Indian huts andt cornfields. Severail villages and sev- 
eral hundred acres of corn were discovered. We encamped 
at one of them — destroyed their houses andi cut down their 
corn. 



304 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



"This devastating march wasl continued up to the 25th, 
until the entire Cherokee country had been/ traversed and 
Indian trails had disappeared. Houses) were burnt and crops 
and improvements destroyed every day until none remained. 
All cattle and other stock were appropriated. 

"On the 25th orders were issued for the companies to' be 
marched hoane by different routes and mustered out of ser- 
vice, which was done. " 



RIGHTS OF THE CHEROKEES — THE INGRATITUDE OF 
A REPUBLIC. 

Yoakum's view that the Cherokees had a strong equita- 
ble, if mot legal, title to the lands they, claimed ; that the Con- 
sultation was a private organic body that had the right and 
power tto issue the solemn decree it did ; and to authorize the 
negotiation of the treaty entered into by Houston and 
Forbes by direction of the Provisional Government of Texas; 
and that the white people were the first to break the terms 
of the solemn compact entered into with the Indians, is sus- 
tained 1 by the facts of history. 

But a breach had been created that it was impossible to 
bridge, as mutual confidence had been destroyed. The 
people at 'large regarded the Cherokees as enemies, and 
a greedy element hungered for their lands. Reflecting 
public sentiment, the Texas Senate rejected the Houston- 
Forbes treaty. 

President Houston believed that the Cherokees were being 
made the victims of a. cruel combination of circumstances, 
and made a noble but unavailing effort to save them. 

It is not only possible, but probable, that, if the declara- 
tion of the Consultation and the treaty had been lived up to 
in letter and spirit by the people and government of Texas, 
the Che<rokees would have proven faithful allies. 

The action of the Consultation and the treaty if adhered 
to, would have cured its defects and given them defense and 
inviolable territory. Both were repudiated. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



305 



LOCATING THE CAPITAL AT AUSTIN. 

By October 1st, the seat of government was transfered 
to Austin. President Lamar and cabinet traveled overland 
from Houston. They were met outside the town audi es- 
corted in by a delegation of citizens, who gave a banquet 
and ball in their honor. Public buildings, including a wooden 
one-story capitol situated where the city hall now stands, had 
been erected during the summer. 

The site of Austin was selected by Albert C. Horton, 
Louis P. Cook, Isaac W. Burrton, William Menefee and J. 
Campbell, commissioners appointed under the act of January 
14, 1839. Their action was bitterly criticised by those op- 
posed to Lamar's administration, and enthusiastically support- 
ed by his adherents and aill who favored the policy of driv- 
ing the Indians westward as rapidly as possible and shoving 
the frontier line forward in their wake. A prime object was 
to open lands for safe settlement by immigrants and other 
homeseekers. 

At that time Austin was on the extreme frontier. The 
nearest settlement on the west was San Antonio, about eighty 
miles away. "To Laviaca Bay, one hundred and fifty 
miles distant, the only settlements were Gonzales and Vic- 
toria. To Houston, a distance of nearly two hundred miles, 
the only settlements were about Washington." To the set- 
tlements on Red River, nearly four hundred miles distant, 
was a region unoccupied save by roving and murderous 
bands of Indians. 



CAPT. HOWARD'S SKIRMISH. 

Fort Burleson, Oct. 26, 1839. 
To the Hon. A. Sidney Johntson, Sec. of War: 

Sir — I have the honor to report that on the morning of 
the 26th inst., between San G-abriel and Little River, as I was 
riding accompanied by one of my command, about one 
quarter otf a mile in advance of Hie wagons and their guard, 
I discovered a number of Indians at a distance, and leaving 



306 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



& man to watch their movements and endeavor to ascertain 
their numbers, I joined my company to put them in a posi- 
tion for attack or defense, as circumstances might require. 

"The scout eamje in and reported about 140 Indians. I 
then took; a position in an, island of timber, forming a breast- 
work with the wagons, which I had hardly completed when 
the enemy came upon us. There were from 15 to 30 riding 
around, and as' I thought, endeavoring to draw me from my 
position. 

Finding that impossible, they drew off to a point of tim- 
ber about 250 yards distant. In order to ascertain their 
numbers' with more certainty, I mounted and rode in their 
direction, when they withdrew in^o tie prairie. As I found 
that their force did not exceed 20, and some of them had 
previously rode off in a different direction (probably to ob- 
tain reinforcements), I took up the line of march for the 
Falls, after instructing Capt. Moore and lit. Lewis that I 
would endeavor to provoke them to an attack, and to hold 
themselves in 1 readiness. I being the best mounted, pursued 
the Indians alone. On reaching the summit of a hill in the 
prairie, I discovered them in advance. They immediately 
turned and gave chase, hoping to out me off before I could 
reach my force. I led them back towards the wagons, and 
on their arriving within 200 yards, Lt. Lewis and twelve men 
met me ; we then charged them, (leaving Capt. Moore and the 
balance of the men to giuard the wagons) and a skirmish en- 
sued which lasted about fifteen minutes, when they retreated, 
leaving three men and three horses dead upon the field, be- 
sides several who rode off evidently woiunded. The state of 
our horses was sruch that I could not pursue them, as^ they 
were mostly momnted on fine American horses, and having 
setem a very large trail near Brushy the day before, I 
thomgM it cmtost prudent to proceed on my route. "We sus- 
tained no injoiry, with the exception of one horste, which 
was badly wounded and left behind. I arrived here on Mon- 
day the 28th without further interruption, but from the var- 
ious trail* audi signs, I am convinced there is a large fiorce 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



307 



hovering about the road from this place to Austin. 

Lt. Alexander and several of the men are down with 
the fever, there is moi surgeon within seventy miles of the 
post, and no medicines on hand. 

I have the honor tio be very respectfully your obedient 
servant. Geo. T. Howard, Comd'g Piost. 

—Austin City Gazette, Nov. 6, 1839. 



INDIAN TROUBLES NEAR THE NEW CAPITAL. 

During the fell of 1839, a young negro man owned by 
Hamilton White was killed and scalped by Indians in Wal- 
nut Creek bottom about sax miles from Austin. White had 
a contract to deliver lumber at Austin, and started the ne- 
gro for that place with a 'wagon load of lumber and $300.00 
in money. The night before lie was killed, the negro stopped 
with his team at Reuben Hornsby's. In the morning he said 
that he was (afraid to go on to Austin, as it was known that 
hostile Indians were in the vicinity. Mr. Hornsby told him 
that he had better wait until he could get company. The dar- 
key, replied that Mr. White expected him to reach town by a 
certain time, iand he would ha ve to hake chances. He accord- 
ingly set forward, with the result .stated. 

The "Telegraph," published at Houston, says in its issue 
of Dec. 18, 1839: 

"The combined tribes of the Lipans and Tankaways 
were at Austin; on the 11th inst. They (were to accompany 
Col. Burleson on the expedition into the Comanche country. 
About 300 troops under this officer and 200 of the Indians 
were to leave the encampment near Austin on or about the 
13th inst. for this purpose. 

"The object of the expedition is to force the Comanche* 
from the section of country near the San Saba and to es- 
tablish a line of block house® from the Colorado to the Red 
Rdver. These block houses, when erected and garrisoned, it 
as believed, will effectually shut out the prairie Indians from 
the country, and remove the frontier from 100 to 200 miles 



308 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



further northward. By this means an immense tract, the 
most fertile and healthy section of Texas, will be opened to 
the enterprising iunniigrants who are crowding 1 into the 
country. The section of country to be thus wrested from 
these savage hordes, is exceedingly valuable, from the fact 
that it is peculiarly adapted to the culture of wheat and 
other staples of the middle states of the American Union." 



BURLESON'S ATTACK ON MIGRATING CHEROKEES — 
DEATH OF "THE BOWL" AND "THE EGG." 

The year closed with an engagement on Chriistmias day 
with ia considerable body lof Cherokees who were trying to 
make their way across Texas into Mexico by traveling north of 
the settlements. They were led by John Bowles, son of 
Col. Bowles, or "The Bowl," as he was called by the tribe, 
(the deceased chief who was killed in one of the battles 
fought when the Cherokees were expelled from East Texas 
in July), and another chief called "The Egg." 

Col. Edward Burleson, of the army, in command of a 
body of regulars, a few volunteers and Lipan and Tonkawa 
scouts was making & winter campaign between the upper 
Colorado and Brazos rivers. 

During the afternoon of December 23, when he was about 
twenty-five miles east of Pecan bayou, his scouts reported 
that they had discovered a large trail of horses and cattle 
bearing south, in the direction of the Colorado river. 

The trail was followed ant some time in the afternoon of 
December 25, Coil. Burleson and his men crossed to the west 
side of the river and approached within a short distance of 
the camp of John Bowles and ''The E«gg" before being dis- 
covered. 

Burleson desired the Indians to surrender. They sent a 
messenger to him to* parley and at the same time a party of 
them moved to his rear and took position in a ravine. Con- 
cluding that they were merely endeavoring to secure time to 
attack his force to best advantage, he detained the Indian 
messenger and gave orders under which his men began to de- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



309 



ploy in such a manner as to be able to assail the enemy both 
in front and flank. 

Correctly interpreting' whut was transpiring, the Indians 
in the ravine opened fire, instantly killing Capt. Lynch and 
wounding several of the whites. The fire was returned by 
Company B, which immediately charged under Capt. Clen 
denin, and drove the savages out of the ravine and back 
upon the main force. At the same time the rest of Burle- 
son's force charged the warriors under Bowles and "The 
Egg." Both of the chiefs and five other Indians were 
killed. The conflict wias brief, the Cherokee® breaking be- 
fore the impetuous onset, and seeking cover in dense cedar 
brakes. All the surviving warriors, except the messenger, 
escaped. He and five women and nineteen children were 
made captives. Among the prisoners were 'the wife and two 
daughters of Col. Bowles and three children of J ohn Bowles. 
Some months later the prisoners were sent to their kindred 
in the Cherokee Nation, west of Arkansas. 

Col. Burleson continued his expedition to a successful 
conclusion, marching up Pecan Bayou, thence across -to- the 
Leon, and down the country to the settlements, frightening 
Indians out of the region. Several bodies of hostile® were 
reported by their scouts, but, dissolved and disappeared on 
his approach. 

Among those who accompanied him were Col. Wm. S. 
Fisher, Major Wyatt, Captain Matthew Caldwell, Lieut. Lew- 
is, Dr. Booker, and Capt. (afterwards Dr.) J. P. B. January, 

The end of the year found the Indian situation in Texas 
somewhat improved, the settlements rapidly extending, pop- 
ulation and wealth largely increased, and security — the twin 
blessing of freedom — being afforded in (larger measure to 
the people on the frontier and elsewhere than at any for- 
mer time since ttfie era of the Republic. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



HE year 1840, in the history of Texas, 
teems with interest. The stream of the na- 
tion 's life, no longer ia rivulet, was broaden- 
ing and deepening- into a noble river. 

During the twelve months, the eastern, 
and a portion of the northern boundary of 
Texas were established 'by commissioners ap- 
pointed for the purpose. ^The "neutral 
ground" on the eastern line was thus elim- 
inated. The survey added a narrow strip 
of land to the northern portion of the Republic. The; set- 
tler® in it were generously treated by Texas, being al- 
lowed the same quantities of land as emigrants. 

Having no use for the navy, Texas leased the greater 
portion of it to Yucatan, in whose service it remained for 
two years. An attempt was made to establish a Republic 
of the Rio Grande by Mexican revolutionists, but failed. The 
effort 'would be unworthy of mention, but for the increase 
of fame added to Texas arms by Colonels William S. Fisher, 
S. "W. Jordan ;and their comrades, who aided the movement 
and performed military exploits on Mexican soil thalt are 
not surpassed by any record of Texas soldiers. 

In tftie latter part of the year the independence of Tex- 
as was formally recognized by Great Britain, France and Bel- 
gium, 'and the Republic's position as <a sovereign state as- 
sured. 




BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



311 



So much for general events and legislation. The 
main interest that attaches to the year centers in 
incidents that marked the working out of President Lamar's 
Indian policy, and in happenings that swelled' the bloody tide 
o f * savage atrocities that continued to surge along the fron- 
tier. 



FAMOUS COUNCIL HOUSE FIGHT. 

January 30, Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson wrote to Col. 
William S. Fisher, commanding 1st regiment of Texas In- 
fantry, directing him to/ order three companies of the regi- 
ment to march immediately to San Antonio, and to proceed 
there himself and take command of the troops and! station 
them in such advantageous position near the town as he might 
select. Gen. Johnston recited the contents of a letter re- 
ceived from Karnes and then, speaking of the Comanches, 
said: "If they come, in accordance with their agreements, 
bringing with them the captives and deliver them up, such 
voluntary release of their prisoners will be regarded as an 
evidence of their sincere desire for peace and they will, there- 
fore, be treated with kindness and be permitted to depart 
without molestation. 

"You will state to them that this governmient assumes 
the right, with regard to all Indian tribes residing within 
the limits of the Republic, to dictate the conditions of their 
residence, and that their own happiness depends on their 
good or bad conduct toward our citizens ; that their remain- 
ing 'within such limits as may be prescribed, and an entire 
abstinence from acts of hostility or annoyance to the inhab- 
itants of the frontier, are the only conditions for the priv- 
ilege of occupancy that the government deems it is neces- 
sary ait (this time to impose.' 7 

He described that the Comanches be told that they must 
keep out of the settlements, and not molest persons locating 
lands, as 'citizens were entitled by law to make locations 
upon any vacant and unappropriated portion of the pufblie 
domain. 



312 ; BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



He also commanded Col. Fisher to arrest and hold as hos- 
tages the Indians who came to the meeting, unless they 
brought in and surrendered all the captives held by Connan- 
ches ; but to allow messengers to return to the tribe and re- 
port what had occurred, and that the Indian hostages would 
be releasd »as soon as the white captives were produced. 

Col. Fisher communicated with the Comanehes in Feb- 
ruary, telling them not to come in without bringing all the 
prisoners. 

They replied that they would arrive iat the time ap- 
pointed. 

March 19th a party ,of Comanches, consisting of thirty 
two warriors and thirty- three women and children entered 
San Antonio, bringing only one prisoner, Matilda Lockhart. 
The girl's body was covered with bruises and sores, her 
hair had been singed to the scalp, and her nose had been 
burned off to the bone — evidently at some time considerably 
anterior to the meeting, as the wound had healed. 

Twelve chiefs who accompanied the party, were con- 
ducteed to the Court House, where they took seats on the 
platform at one end of the room with Col. Fisher, Col. Hugh 
McLeod, Adjutant General, and Col. William G. Cooke, Quar- 
termaster General, and acting Secretary of war,* comanis- 
sioners appointed to treat with them. In the room were 
also a, consider able crowd of bystanders. iCapt. George T. 
Howard was ordered up with two companies of (soldiers, one 
of which was stationed in the Court House' and the other 
near the building. 

The Indian women .and children were gathered in the 
yard and the w.arriors about the house. 

The jail occupied the corner f ormed by the east line of 
Main Plaza and the north line of what is now Market street, 
and to the north of, and adjoining it, 'was the court house. 
Both buildings were of stone, one story, flat roofed, and 
dirt floor. 

Col. Fisher opened the talk by lasking the chiefs why 



*Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston had refused the position of Secretary of War. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



313 



they had not brought in all of the prisoners, thirteen in num- 
ber, which tfhey were known to have. Muke-war-rah replied 
that they had brought in the only prisoners, and that 
the others were with bands over whom they had no 'control. 
Miss Lockhart was then questioned, and said that she had 
seen several prisoners in camp a few days previous, and that 
the policy determined upon by the Indians was to bring 
them in one at a time and thus extort large ransoms. She 
also told of the brutal treatment and indignities to which 
she had been subjected. The chiefs listened in haughty 
and defiant silence while she spoke, and as she left the room 
they became restless and gave evideneie of their feelings — 
trouble was imminent. 

A message was sent Capt. Howard, and he marched into 
the room with the company that had been stationed in the 
yard, drew his men up in line across the apartment, and sta- 
tioned himself and sentry at the Closed doors. Capt. Redd's 
company was ordered to the iear of the building, and had 
barely arrived there when the fighting began. 

In the yard were Indian boys shooting with bows and 
arrows at marks, for simall coins that Judge Robinson was 
offering them as prizes. Mrs, Maverick and other ladies 
were looking on through cracks in the fence. 

When Howard's company Lad been brought to parade 
rest, Col. Fisher arose and addressed the chiefs. He re- 
proached them with their former perfidy, and for violating 
the terms of the subsisting agreement. In conclusion, he 
asked them if they recollected murdering two white men 
while under a white flaig. 

A Comanche chief arose, and with an audacity and an 
insolence of tone and manner that could not be exceeded, re- 
plied, "No, we do not recollect, " and seated himself, after 
the Indian fashion. 

Silence ensued. It was broken by the chief again aris- 
ing, turning toward Col. Fisher with an air at once con- 
temptuous and threatening, and demanding in a loud voice, 
4 4 How do you like our answer f" 

Col. Fisher replied: "I do not like your answer. I told 



314 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



you not to come there again without bringing' in the priso- 
ners. You have come against my orders. Your women and 
children may depart in peace, 'and your brakes may go and 
tell your people to send in the prisoners. When those; pris- 
oners are returned, you and the other chiefs here present 
may likewise go free. Until then we will hold you asi hos- 
tages." 

The interpreter had' to be told twice to report this dec- 
laration ; protesting that a conflict would immediately follow. 
As soon as he uttered the words be left the room. True t& 
his prediction, the chiefs strung their bows, and drew their 
knives. 

! In bis official report, Col. McLcod says': "We told the 
chiefs that the soldiers they saw were their guards, and 
descended from the platform. They immediately followed. 
One of them sprang to the back door and attempted to* pass 
the sentinel who presented his musket, when the chief drew 
his knife and stabbed ham. A rush was then unlade to the 
door. Capt, Howard collared one of them and received a 
severe stab in the side. Howard tried (to use hds sword, 
but it was too* lomg for service in a breast to breast strug- 
gle, and all he could do was to seize the Indian's wrist, 
which he held till faint from loss of blood. He ordered the 
sentinel to fire upon his antagonist, which he did and the 
Indian fell dead. Col. Fisher ordered, 'Fire if they do not 
desist.' The Indians rushed on and fought desperately, and a 
general order to fire became necessary. 

"After a short, but desperate, ■struggle every one of 
the twelve chiefs in the council room lay dead upon the 
floor. 

"The indoor work being finished, Capt. Howard's com- 
pany was formed in front to< preveait retreat in that direc- 
tion; but in coanseqnence of the severity of his wound, he 
was relieved by Capt. G-illeu, who commanded the company 
till the close of the action." 

The bystanders in the room had to fight for their Uvea 
as 'well as the rest. Judge John Hemphill (then District 
Judge and later Chief Justice of the Supreme Coairt) was 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



315 



one of them, and disemboweled with a bowie knife, one of 
the chiefs, who grappled with him. 

The Indians outside the hous(e fought like wild beasts. 
Capt. Redd's company coming* up promptly in the rear of the 
building, drove them toward a stone building, which only 
one of them succeed in entering. Several white men were 
killed and wounded. The Indian arrows with which they 
were struck were driven to the feathers. Several Indians 
were killed in >adjacent streets and yards by citizens. A 
smalil number of the savages managed to reach the 
river, but were pursued anfd killed by Maj. Lysander "Wells 
and a few other mounted men, only one of their party — a 
renegrade Mexican — escaping. Three women and two boys, 
who took p>art in the fray, were slain. 

Wishing to spare the warrior in the stone building, the 
commissioners sent in an Indian woman to tell him to surren- 
der and be spared. He refused the offer, and continued to 
shoot, wounding several persons. After dark, a Mexican 
crawled on top of the house, picked a bole ijn the roof, and 
dropped a large ignited.! ball of cloth saturated with turpen- 
tine into the room, for the purpose of lighting up the inter- 
ior so the occupant could be seen. The ball fell on the In- 
dian's head anid stuck there, and he rushed into the street 
covered with flame. He was instantly riddled with bullets. 
Twenty-eight Indian women and children were detained as 
prisoners. 

The Texan loss was, killed: Judge James W. Robinson; 
Judge Hotod of San Antonio ; Judge Thompson of Houston ; 
Casey of Matagorda county; Lieut. W. M. Dunnington, 1st In- 
fantry; Privates Kaniinske and Whiting, iand a Mexican. 
Wounded: Capt. George T.Howard, Lieut. Edward A. 
Thompson and private Kelley, severely, and Capt. Matthew 
Caldwell, 'and Mr. Higgenibottom and Deputy Sheriff Mor- 
gan and Private Carson, slightly. Col. McLeold says: "Ov- 
er a hundred horses anid *a large quantity of buffalo robes 
and peltries remained to the victors." 

By request of the prisoners, one squaw was released, 
provisioned and allowed to go to her people <and say that 



316 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the prisoners would be released whenever the Texan prisoners 
held by the Indians were brought in. 

A short time afterward a party off Comanche® dis>- 
played a 'white flag- on a hill some distance from town, evi- 
dently afraid to come nearer. When a flag was sent out it 
was found tihat they had brought in several white children 
to exchange for their people. Their mission Was^ successful 
and they hurried away. 

The Telegraph and Texas Register gave an account of 
the following, among other incidents of the Council Heuse 
Fight : 

"Capt. Matthew Caldwell, 1st Regiment of Infantry, was 
in the street unarmed when the struggle commenced. He 
stepped into a, house to see if lie could procure a gun. 
No one was at ,home, audi he passed into the back yard. 
There he was confronted by an Indian warrior, who made 
ready to shoot him. Caldwell stooped down and picked up 
a rock, which he threw, hitting the warrior on the forehead, 
slightly stunning him. Caldwell continued 1 to throw stones, 
hurling them so 1 fast, that for dodlging, the Indian did not 
get a chance to take aim and let fly an arrow. While this 
unequal combat was in progress John D. Morris, w&th only a 
three inch barrel, single shot pistol, came into the inclosure. 
Caldwell, who; was nearly exhausted, called out, 'Go up and 
shoot him John, or he will get me. I will keep him on the 
jump with stones. ' 

' ' Morris did as requested, walking to wlithin f ouir feet of 
the Indian and shooting him through the heart. 

" Deputy Sheriff Morgan (one of Deaf Smith's men) 
was standing in the back yard of a residence when three 
warriors sealed the wall and attacked him. Although wound- 
ed, he picked up a rock and fraeturedl the skull of one of 
his assailants with it killing him. He then seized an axe and 
retreated into the house, where he stationed himself at one 
side of the open door. Tihe two remaining Indians attemp- 
ted to follow !hdm, and he killed them with terrific blows, 
dealt with the axe." 

A Gnerman doctor, who Was a local celebrity and a man 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



317 



of scientific .taste 1 and attainments, came upoin the body of 
one of the Indians killed' by Morgan and, being impressed by 
the peculiar bumps on the bead, took it for purpose of dis- 
secting it. He was much disgusted to find that the protub- 
erance were (not natural develc^emetnts, but due to the skull 
being fractured! in thirty -two places . He later bodied one of 
the -bodies, removed the flesh from the bones, and articulated 
the complete skeleton, which he placed in his cabinet. Inci- 
dently, he emptied the refuse into the Acequia, from which 
citizens procured drinkin'g water. The fact becoming known, 
he stated thiat the deposit was made When (everybody was 
asleep alt night and the: stream was completely purified be- 
fore water was again taken from it for drinking or cooking 
purposes. Nothing- butt his popularity saved' him from en- 
forced emigration. 

March 281th, two> hundred and fifty, or three hundred, 
Comanches eame close to San Antonio, and chief Isimanca 
and another warrior of their number, rode daringly into the 
public square, and circled around the plaza, then rode some 
distance dow<n Commence street and back, shouting all the 
while, offering to fight, and showering abuse and insults on 
the Americans. " Isimanca was in full war paint and almost 
naked. He stopped quite awhile in front of B luck's saloon, 
on the northeast corner of the square. He shouted defiance, 
rose in his stirrups, shook his clenched fist, raved and 
foamed at the mouth. The citizens, through an interpreter, 
told' him that the soldiers' were all down at the- Mission San 
Jose, and if he went there Colonel Fisher would give 
him fight enough." 

He proceeded! at once tlo t he Missien and repeated his 
challenge^ Col. Fisher was sick in bed and Capt. Redd was 
in command of the post. 

Redd replied to Isimanca by saying that a twelve days 
truce had been entered inito with the Comanches 1 and he had 
orders not to break it, but if the chief and his war- 
riors would return when the truce was at an end, they would 
be accomodated. 



318 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Isimanca denounced him and his men as coiwardis and 
finally left. 

Yoakum says: "Tine Com anehes hung about San Anton- 
io in small parties brooding over their loss. The killing of 
so many of their chiefs was a severe stroke, and they were 
divided on the question of war. At length they retired! to 
their homes, on the upper branch of the Texas rivers, to 
make serious preparations for a terrible visitation on the 
white settlements."* 

Branch T. Archer was appointed secretary of War, and 
Col. William- G. Cook succeeded Col. Edward Burleson as 
Colonel of /infantry. 

In May, the Republic was aroused by rumors of an im- 
pending military invasion from Mexico, to be accompanied by 
Indians employed as allies of the Mexican troops. 

Orders were issued under which a large force of Tesos 
volunteers assembled for the purpose of organizing an army 
for resistance. 

Upon the receipt of other information' that was; deemed 
reliable to the effect that no such hostile movement was 
likely to take place — they were disbanded. 

The incident was designated as the "Archer War" 
and provoked much adverse and undeserved criticism. 

In the early days of July, Capt. Clendeninj left San An- 
tonio in command' of a volunteer expedition against the Co- 
manches,3but afterwards returned to the town leavng Capt. J. 
R. Cunninghiam and a force of nineteen men on the Frio. In 
an official report by Cunningham he says thai; after they 
parted July 4th, he crossed the Frio (on the same day) and 
came upon a fresh Indian trail, which he pursued for several 
miles up the western side of the stream, expecting every 
moment to come upon the enemy. The trail finally bore 



*Matxh 26th, Mrs. Webster came into San Antonio \ itb her three-yes? -o <3 1 si y upon 
her back, having escaped from the Comanche* by whom the had been capiured the previ- 
ous year when her hutband and party had been killed on Brushy Creek, near Georgetown. 
She presented a most wretched and pitiable appearance and was almost famished. 
Friends cared for and min?6tered to her. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



319 



away from ftflbe river, and be followed it without stopping 
to get water. After proceeding for some time, mien anid 
horses began to suffer greatly from want iof water. It was 
not practicable to return to* the river, without abandoning 
the chase. He land the men determined to go on. This they 
did, knowing that the Indians would stop at the first water 
hole and would probably make a stubborn fighit for its reten- 
tion. 

Between 5 and 6 o'clock p. m., Antonio, a Tonkaway 
sciout employed by the company, and who had been kept 
considerably in advance of the command, rode back and Ire- 
ported that the Indians — twenty warriors — were at a spring 
just ahead and were saddling their animals preparatory to 
resuming their journey. Cunningham and those iof his men 
who were with him cautiously approached the place and took 
position within a short distance of the Indians 'without being 
perceived. He waited a few moments for his rear file to 
come up and dress into lime before ordering a charge. While 
this movement was being executed on)e of his mem aceidemt- 
ly discharged a gum, and the Indians leaped into their sad- 
dles and applied the whip. He and. his men charged at once, 
killing Indaan,s right and left. The surviving savages labor- 
ed to reach thickets some distance ahead. When all of them 
were wounded except three, the latter protected the retreat 
of the band in a manner that he repeatedly speaks of "as 
noble." He says that one of the three was under fire of 
ten or twelve sof the best shots on the frontier, but acted 
with cool intrepidity to the last. A rifle ball finally shat- 
tered his leg, and he fell over on his horse, just as he and 
the remnant of the band reached cover.. Cunmingham cap- 
tured all the effects of the Indians. He says that he made 
"a hon-fire of most of their trumpery" and divided the 
balance of their "plunder" among the volunteers by lot. 
The most important part of his capture was a caballado of 
horses and mules — a total of sixteen. He reached San An- 
tonio July 7th. 



320 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



THE GREAT COMANCHE) RAID — SACKING OF LIN- 
VILLE AND BURNING OF VICTORIA. 

During the first week in August, following the Council 
House Fight, and other bloody affrays, narrated, occurred the 
Great Comanche Raid; in some respects the most formidable 
invasion ever made by Indians into Texas. 

This raid: was known to and encouraged, if not material- 
ly aided, by the Mexican authorities — especailly den. Cana- 
lize at Matamoras — and shows to have been well planned, 
with some degree of military strategy. The descent was 
sudden, but the alarm spread as if borne on the wings of 
the wind and the brave defenders of our frontier were soon 
collected under their favorite leaders and went in pursuit, 
overtaking, engaging, and routing the murderers. 

This remarkable affair marks an important epoch in 
Texas history, and indeed most of our historians regard it 
as the turning point in affairs with the Indians. Many par- 
tial and often erroneous accounts of this bold uprising and 
its timely quelling, have been published. Fortunately we are 
enabled to give the facts as detailed by those: in authority 
on matters pertaining to our border history.* It is not our 
purpose to enter into the details of matters leading 
up to and resulting in this bold raid — that belongs to the 
history of Texas proper and has much to do with the po- 
litical attitude of Mexico' toward the struggling Tfxas Re- 
public. 

The unfortunate Council House tragedy doubtless hast- 
ened the movements of this expedition, the enraged Co- 
manclies, swearing to avenge the death of their fallen chiefs. 
The Indians to the number of about one thousand, begiam 
the descent from their stronghold in the mountains above the 
San Marcos and extending their raid across the country to 
Lavaca Bay on the coast, and back to Good's Crossing on 
Plum Creek, twenty miles south-west of Austin, where they 



*Much of the data used in the preparation of th>'s narrative was furnished the au- 
thor by the late Dr. Ruius C. Burleson a short tin e before his death, expressly for Bor- 
der Wars of Texas. 



DEATH OF CAPT. JOHN B. DENTON — PAGE 357 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



321 



were intercepted amd routed, losing ail their prisoners and 
property captured at Victoria and Linville. 

The Indians passed down the country during the first 
days Off August, leaving Gonzales seventeen miles to the 
west, and murdering a few families as they passed through 
the sparsely settled country, * they reached the quiet town 
of Victoria at 2:30 o'clock p. m. on August 6. The citizens 
were not dreaming o<f Indians. Children were playing in the 
yards, and on the sjtreets, ladies were shopping and joyfully 5 
engaged in their domestic affairs, the men were at their 
usual vocations, when the bloody demons "with horrid yells 
rushed into the streets and began their slaughter. Dr. Gray 
and a few others who attempted resistance were cut down. 
The citizens not killed, took refuge in their houses and 
fortified themselves as best they could. The Comanche^ 
then plundered the stores and private residences of every- 
thing valuable. They caught in the lots and pastures be- 
tween two and three thousand horses and mules and loaded 
eight hundred or a thousand of them with the goods 
plundered. They started on to Linville. That night they 
kindled big fires and with fiendish joy danced and yelled 
around the scalps of murdered citizens and their plunder. 

Next morning they hurried on to Linville, on the way 
capturing Mrs. Crosby, grand-daughter oif the celebrated 
Daniel Boione of Kentucky, with her child and a nurse. 
About daylight, on August the 8th, while many of the citi- 
zens were in bed, the Indians entered Linvilfle and throwing 
themselves on the sides of their horses and riding in this 
way, deceived the few early risers who saw them coming 
but thought they were some of the usual caballados of horses 
and mules brought into Linville for sale and shipment. 

No language can tefll the horror of the innocent people 



*■ "At the time of this raid," says John Henry Brown, "the country between the 
Guadalupe and San Marcos, on the west, and the Colorado on the east, above a line drawn 
from Gonzales to La Grange, -was a wilderness, while between that line it was thinly set- 
tled. Between Gonzales and Austin, on Plum Creek, were two recent settlers— Isom J. 
Good and John A. Neil. From Gonzales to within a few miles of Austin there was not a 
settler. There was not one between Austin and San Antonio. A road from Gonzales to 
Austin had been opened in July, 1839." 



322 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



when they saw a thousand red demons 'suddenly rising in 
their saddles and with fiendtish yells killing the defense- 
less citizens, soone of them in their beds. Resistance was ut- 
terly useless and the terror stricken men, women and chil- 
dren rushed for the small boats lying in Lavaca Bay. The 
warwhoop of the wild Comanches, the cries of women and 
children and the groans of the dying, presented a scene of 
horror upon which the rising sun never before dawned. The 
oloody demons pursued the fleeing men, Women and child- 
ren inJto the water. Among those killed was Captain H. 0. 
Watts, collector of customs. He and his beautiful bride 
were captured between the shore and the boats., He was 
killed and his young bride was ruthlessly dragged back to 
the shore audi carried away as captive. The majority of 
the inhabitants escaped to the boiats, but alll others were 
murdered or carried away captives. 

Linville was the shipping point for a large portion of 
South-western Texas and Mexico and was at that time well 
supplied with all sorts of merchandise. The exulting Co- 
manches greedily sacked the stores and private residences 
and packed several hundred more horses and! mules with 
every kind of merchandise, elegant dresses and bed clothes 
from private residences. They now bedecked themselves 
with red ribbons and gay clothing captured, and rode up 
and down the streets yelling like demons and fired the 
town, burning every house except one. 

What languagte can express the horror of the innocent 
men, women and children as the}^ stood on the boats in the 
bay and looked upon their once happy homes, burning to 
ashes, and remembering many of their loved ones lay bleed- 
ing in the streets ! 



BATTLE AT PLUM CREEK. 

The exulting Comanches, with three or four thousand 
horses and mules, many of them heavily paoked with goods 
plundered at Victoria and Linville, began their retreat. They 
had glorious visions of the grand feasts and "War Dances" 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



323 



they would) have when they reached their mountain home 
audi displayed' the scalps and the untold wealth, and the- 
women and children they had captured. 

But, says one, God gave Texas heroes and path-finders, 
who were ever ready to avenge such bloody raids. Among 
these were "Old Gotch" Hardeman, Henry McOulloeh, John 
H. Moore,, "Paint" Caldwell, Ed. Burleson and others. 

The vigilant Ben McCulloeh with a small force, was al- 
ready in pursuit — and m fact had engaged the enemy. He 
sent Burleson the following dispatch: "General: The Indians 
have sacked and burned the town of LinviMe, and carried 
off several prisoners. We made a draw fight with them at 
Ca<sa Blancot — couiid not stop them. We want to fight them 
before they get to the mountains. We have sent express- 
men up the Guadalupe." 

Messengers rode swift in every direction, and at a mo- 
ment 's warning, every man seized his gun, mounted and 
rushed to the place of rendezvous. Those near La Grange 
met at Col. Jno. H. Moore's, those near Bastrop met at Gen. 
Ed. Burleson's, those near Webberville at "Paint" Cald- 
well's, and all concentrated at the point suggested by Gen. 
Burleson, who ordered all to meet |and attack the Comanehes 
at Good's Crossing on Plum Creek, two miles from where the 
town of Loekhart now stands and twenty-seven miles below 
Austin. The grand old hero Paint Caldwell with eighty- 
two men, first reached the place of rendezvous August 1. 
Next morning the scouts reported a thousand Indians coming 
on the prairie with vast herds of horses and muiles, and sev- 
eral women and children. But Burlescn, nor Moore, nor Mc- 
Culloch, nor Hardeman had arrived; was it safe for eighty- 
two men to attack a thousand Comanehes? However, as they 
looked upon the awful spectacle, and saw them moving along 
with women and children, Caildwetll could hold in no longer, 
but yelled out: "Boys, yonder they go and they have 
got our women and children] — they are a thousand: strong — 
but we can whip hell out of them ! Shall we fight ? ' ' All 
shouted, "Yes, fight, fight!" 

But at that time a courier came galloping up crying, 



324 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



"General Burleson with one hundred Texans and thirteen 
Tonkawas and old Placido are coming I" In the meantime 
Gen, Felix Huston arrived, and as Major General of the mi- 
litia, took command. 

The Indians were exceedingly anxious to defer the bat- 
tle until they could get their packmules with the vast 
plunder and captured women and children beyond reach 
of the infuriated Texans. And General Huston was equally 
anxious to defer the battle until more recruits came. Several 
bluff old Indian fighters told him he knew nothing about 
fighting Indians, that he ought to resign and let Gen Burle- 
son command. But this was Gen. Huston's first chance for 
glory. The Indian chiefs did all in their power to intimi- 
date the T exams and hold them back until they could get 
their plunder and captives far removed. Several of the In- 
dian chiefs charged up in front of the Texans and hurled de- 
fiant arrows and spears at them. One of these daring chiefs 
rode a fine horse with a fine American bridle, with a red rib- 
bon eight or ten feet long tied to the tail of his horse. He 
was dressed in elegant style from the goods plundered at 
Victoria and Linville, with a high- top silk hat, fine pair of 
boots, leather gloves and an elegant broad-cloth coat, hind- 
part before with brass buttons shining brightly up and 
down his back. When he first made his appearance he car- 
ried a large umbrella stretched. He and others would 
charge upon the Texans, shoot their arrows, and retreat. 
This was done several times' in reach of our guns. Soon 
the discovery was made that they wore shields, and though 
our men took good aim, the bullets glanced. An olid Texan, 
getting as near the place as was safe, waited patiently 1 till 
they came up, and as the Indian wheeled his horse his 
shield flew up. The Texan fired and brought him to the 
ground. Several others: fell at the same time. Then the In- 
dians began their retreat, and would soon have been beyond 
the reach of the Texans. 

Gen. Huston was new told by the gallant. MeCulloch 
and Gen. Burleson that the time had come when they must 
fight, and he reluctantly gave the order, "Charge!" Never 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



325 



was a command obeyed! with wilder shouts. Every man 
was a hero, and the conscience-stricken, blood-stained Co- 
manches were swept away like chaff before a tornado. 

The Indians fled in wild confusion. Not one thought 
of saving anything but his own scalp. They abandoned 
their three thousand horses and plunder, and; the captured 
women and children. But they could not forego the 
fiendish pleasure of murdering Mrs. Crosby, her child 
and nurse. They also shot an arrow into the bosom of the 
lovely youmg bride, Mrs. Watts, and left her as dead. But 
Rev. Z. N. Morrell and Dr. Brown heard her screams in 
a thicket and went to her assistance. They extracted the 
arrow, and she recovered and lived many years — never for- 
getting her awful experience — and died at Port Lavaca, 
in 1878. 

The enraged Texans pursued the Indians, and killed 
them for twelve or fifteen miles out, till they finally gained 
safety in the brakes and mountains. 

Thus ended 1 the great raid of 1840 — the most remark- 
able in our border annals so far as Indian affairs are con- 
cerned. It was a wonderful era in Texas history ; indeed it 
was the turning point. Had the Comanches been success- 
ful, they confidently intended, with the horses, mules and ma- 
terials captured, to equip a formidable war party of two or 
three thousand Indians for a grand re-raid down the Colo- 
rado to the Gulf, plundering and devastating the fairest 
portion of Texas. In the meantime Generals Canalizo and 
Woll, with some three thousand Mexican cavalry, were to 
rush forward, capturing San Antonio and Austin, with all 
booty. Chief Bowles and his Cherokees were to move 
down and destroy the eastern portion of the state; the Wa- 
cos, Apaches and allied tribes raiding down the Brazos, and 
central Texas, thus utterly wiping out the Texans. "But in 
the good Providence of God, we had heroes true and brave, 
who quickly rallied, and uniting under their tried and cho- 
sen leaders, crushed out this diabolical purpose for the ruin 
of Texas. The defeated and routed Comanches fled to their 



326 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



mountain homes, overwhelmed with the conviction that the 
Texans were quick of action, fearlessly brave, and invincible 
of purpose- — against any odds." 

The savages were crestfallen] and chagrinned, and sul- 
lenly retired to their miountain haunts to brood over defeat, 
and to plan revenge — on their Mexican allies, Who had 
failed to fulfill their agreement, after inciting the Indians 
and promising to* join them with their forces in a grand re- 
raid of the whole country. And for this breaking oif faith 
it is said the Mexicans suffered severely.* 



HUSTON'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 

Many thrilling incidents and acts of inddviduail bravery 
on the part of the changing Texans might be related did 
space permit. It is in justice to the subject that the offi- 
cial repoirt of the commander of the forces should be given 
■ — supplying, as it does, impoirtant facts — 'and it follows: 
On Plum Creek, 5 miles west of (food's. 

August 12, 1840. 
To the Hon. B. T. Archer, Secretary of "War. 

I arrived on yesterday evening and found Ciapt. Cald- 
well encamped oi» Plum Creek with about one hundred men. 
This morning I was requested to take the command, which 
I did, with the consent of the men. I organized them into 
companies, under the command of Captains Caldwell, Bird 
and Ward. About 6 o'clock a. m. the spies reported that 
Indians were approaching Plum Creek. I crossed above 
the trail about three miles, and passed down on the west 
side ; on arriving near the trail I was joined by Col. Burle- 
son with about one hundred men, under the command of Col. 
Jones, Lieut. Col. Wallace and Major Hardeman. I imme- 



*"In October (1840) more than 400 warriors penetrated into Mexico, some 400 miles: 
they killed, scalped, burned and destroyed everything they could; their track could be 
traced for miles by the burning ranches and villages. They carried off a great many fe- 
male captives, and thousands of horses and mules, and escaped safely to their strongholds 
in the monntains with their booty. The State of Nueva Leon suffered the most severely 
from this onset, having more than 700 inhabitants killed, and the State of Coahuila nearly 
as many. -"Captain Flack's "The Texas Rifle Hunter," p. 133. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



327 



diately formed into two lines, the right commanded by Col. 
Burleson, and >the left commanded by Capt. Caldwell, with 
a reserve commanded by Maj. Hardeman, with Capt. Ward's 
company. On advancing (near the Indians, they formed for 
action, with a front of woods on their right, (which they oc- 
cupied) , their lines extendiing nearly a quarter of a mile into 
the prairie. I dismounted my men, and a handsome fire was 
opened — the Indian chiefs cavorting around in splendid 
style, ooi front and flank, finely mounted, and. dr^ cc ^d in all 
the splendor of Comanche warfare. At this time se^&ml In- 
dians fell from their horses, and we had three or four men 
wounded. Finding that the Indians were disposed to keep 
at a distance, and that a large body were assembled in the 
woods, I ordered Coil. Burleson, with the right wing, to move 
around' the point of woods, and Captain Caldwell, with the 
left wing, to charge into the woods; which movements were 
executed in gallant style. The Indians did not stand; the 
charge, and fled at all points; from that time there was a 
warm and spirited pursuit for fifteen miles; the Indians 
scattered, mostly abandoning their horses and taking to the 
thickets. Nothing could exceed the animation, of the men, 
and the cool and steady manner in which they would dis- 
mount and deliver their fire. Upwards of forty Indians were 
killed — two prisoners Oa squaw and child) taken; and we 
have taken upwards of two. hundred horses and mules, many 
of them heavily packed with the plunder of Linviile and the 
lower country. There is still a large amount >of good horses 
and mules which are not gathered in. Of the captives taken 
by the Indians, below, we have only been able to retake one 
— Mrs. Watts, of Linviile — who was wounded by the Indians 
with an arrow when they fled. Mrs. Croshy was speared, 
and >we understand that all the others were killed. We have 
lost one killed and seven wounded — one mortally. I cannot 
speak t oo highly of the C olor ado, Guadalupe and Lavaca 
militia, assembled so hastily together, and without organiza- 
tion. I was assisted by Major Izod, Colonel Bell, Captain 
Howard and Captain Neil, as volunteer aids, all of whom 
rendered essential service. Colonel Burleson acted with 



323 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



that cwl, deliberate and prompt courage and conduct which 
he has; i&o- of ten! aaid gallantly displayed in almost evetry In- 
dian and Mexican battle since the war commenced. Oapt. 
Caldwell, also ia tried Indian fighter, led on his wing to the 
charge 'with a bold front amd a cheerful heart. Coilonel 
Joaies, Lieut. Col. Wallace, Major Hardemaai,, and each of the 
captains commanding companies, acted with the utmost cour- 
age and firmness. 

To conclude, I believe we have given the Comancbes a 
lesson which they will long remember; near four hundred of 
their bravest warriors have been defeated by half their 
number, and I hope and trust that this will be the last of 
their depredations: on our frontier. 

On tomorrow I contemplate embodying as many men as 
I can, tand if we have a sufficient number of good horses, 
pursue the Indians, in the hopes that we may overttake them 
before they reach the mountains. Colonel Moore joined us 
this evening with about 170 men, horses very hard iriddeai. 
T have the honor to be, 

Your most obedient servant, 

Felix Huston, 

Major-General, T. M. 



INDIANS ATTACK KINNEY'S FORT AND ARE RE- 
PULSED. 

During August, Kinney's Fort on Brushy Creek, 
about eighteen miles from Austin, was attacked by 
Indians. They expected to take its inmates unawares, 
and would have done so had it not been for Joseph 
Weeks. He heard what he at first supposed to be owls 
hooting, but paid little attention to the sounds until he 
noted many answering hoots from various directions. 

He listened attentively, until his practiced ear assured 
ham that the cries were uttered by human throats, and then 
summomed his companions to arms, and started a messenger 
to the nearest settlement for assistance. 

This action was taken none too soon, as the hooting was 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



329 



evidently a signal of attack, and the Indians immediately 
thereafter rushed on the place. They were met by a dis- 
charge of rifle's that sent them reeling^ back. They fought 
from cover for isome time, bait finding that there was no pos- 
sibility of taking the place without greater loss than they 
eared to sustain, drew off with their dead and wounded. On- 
ly one man in the fort was killed, and only one wounded. 

The messenger reached his destination, and a company 
oi fifty men arrived at the fort next day — too late to pur- 
sue the Indians. 

Kinney was a soldier in the Texas army during the rev- 
olution; resided at Bastrop for some .years, and later moved 
to Brushy Cove, where he erected the stockade that bore his 
name. The attack was probably made before' news of the 
result of the battle! of Plum Creek had spread among the 
Indians, for after it became generally known, they remained 
overawed for some time. 



JACK HAYS FIGHTS LARGE WAR PARTY. 

In the fall of 1840 a party of about two hundred Co- 
manches stole. a large number of horses near San' Antonio and 
drove them toward the Guadalupe River. 

Capt. John C. ("Jack'') Hays and twenty men went in 
pursuit, and came upon and charged the Indians at the 
crossing of the Guadalupe. 

The redskins awaited the onset, expecting to easily 
overwhelm their assailants by mere foirce of numbers. The 
plans they laid for that purpose went "agieie". Hays and 
his comrades had a love of fighting that was untinged by 
fear, and that was fatal to those they encountered. 

The head chief was speedily killed, and the Indians 
driven into complete rout. Hays and his mien pursued 
them for several miles, killing a number of them and recov- 
ering moist of the stolen horse s 0 



Saturday, September 1, Michael Nash, a carpenter of 
Bastrop who had a fondness for hunting, killed a deer in 



330 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the woods 1 and started home with the carcass tied behind hi* 
saddle. While iuditnig < along, he was fired upon audi kMed 
by Indians, who .scalped him and took his horse and. its load 
of venison. 

His body was found next day by Mends who» went in 
search of him. His eyes had been pecked out by brnzards, 
and his body mutilated by the Indians, or by wolves, almost 
beyond identification. 



CAPT. ERATH'S SERVICES. 

September 20, Gen. Felix Huston, as Major General of 
the Texas militia, transmitted to the Speaker of the House 
o^ Representativeis ia communication, accompanied by a (re- 
port forwarded to him by Geo. B. Erath, captain of a spy 
company that he had placed in the field. After urging pay- 
ment of Captain Erath and his men, and saying that the com- 
pany had performed valuable service, he continues: 4 4 1 al- 
lude princiipallly toi the discovery of the Indian trail above 
the Waco 1 village, leading far into the mountains and, doubt- 
less, to tine- homes of our savage enemy. This, you will im- 
mediately perceive, will greatly facilitate our army in car- 
rying into; effect what, ishould be the only policy pursued to- 
wards our savage invaders! — utter 'extermination. ' 7 

Captain Erath, in his r/eport, says that his company 
killed two; Indians, and that various parties 1 of Indians were 
seen by him, but. fled upon, the approach of his force, and 
burned the grass behind them. The information furnished 
by Erath induced the Texas Government to depute Col. Jno. 
H. Moore to lead an expedition to the home of the Co- 
manches for the purpose of dealing them a crushing blow. 

The Austin City Gazette, of September 23, isays that an 
expedition against the Indians had been agreed upon, in ac- 
cordance with a plan long projected by Gen. Felix Huston; 
that a total of 1600 men were to be raised in various coun- 
ties, and were to invade the Indian country at different 
points ; that the volunteers: from the Colorado, Brazos, Trin- 
ity and Necbes, would leave! their respective places of ren- 



BORDER WARS OP , TEXAS. 



331 



dezvous Nov ember 10, iaind that those from Red River would 
leave November 15. The paper says: "The GeneraA com- 
manding was ©ailed to> <the honorable sftalbiofni he now fidls by 
the free suffrages of his fellojw citizens, and they wall not 
now desert him." It declares that the wia/r m to be one of 
extermination, and, commenting oni the fact, remtarkB: 
"This is as it ishouM be; for, once let the reds be taught 
to fear the whites and to respect their property, and peace 
and prosperity widi reign supreme in Texas, imandgraticpi 
and wealth will flow to our shores, and the settlements will 
in a shoirt time toe pushed tens, aye hundreds of miles, 
above the present frontier." 



BEGINNING OF SAN MARCOS. 

In an official report* dated October 1, Adjutant and In 
specter General Hug(h McLeod among other things says that 
the detachment of rangers at San Antonio had been 
sent on an expedition, and that a company had been 
sent to the head of the Sain Marcos river to construct and 
occupy a fort, which was to be built of the best materials, 
as it was designed to control the pass through the moun- 
tains at that point. He says that a large niumtber of settlers 
would locate near the fort, and if it was properly main- 
tained, there would in a few years he a sufficient number of 
them to proitect themselves. After speaking of the re- 
inforcement and supplies forwarded' to Col. Cooke, he says ; 
44 Col. Cooke will be enabled from observations on his pres- 
ent campaign, to report the most practicable line of defense 
and settlement 'on our frontier from the Colorado to Red 
River, and on his return be sufficiently early for the action 
of Congress. Any report at present might appear spccula- 
tve and premature; but, in the absence of accurate infor- 
mation; I would suggest that the cross-timbers, being a 
wooded and well watered country, seems to present the 
most continuous line for settlements and communication 
from Red River to the Brazos." He asserts, and lays stress 



if Army Archives. 



332 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



upon, ithe futility of employing volunteer forces enlisted 
for short periods — and. particularly, such forces when 
drawn from the floating population of towns, as they felt 
no interest in protecting the frontier, or the success of cam- 
paigns. 

MOORE'S GREAT VICTORY. 

President Lamar determined to carry the war into the In- 
dian country and' to inflict upon the Comanches such slaugh- 
ter as 'would leave ithiem no longer sufficient power otr cour- 
age ito injure the whites. Accordingly Coi. John Ii. Moore, 
with two companies of citizen- volunteers, aggregating ninety 
men, drawn mositly from Fayette county amid captained by 
Thos. J. Rabb and Nicholas Dawson, with S. S. B. Field, a 
brilliant lawyer of La Grange, as Adjutant — Olark L. Owens 
of Texana, and R. Addison Gillispie, Lieutentants ; and aug- 
mented by twelve trusty Lip an guides' and scouts under 
their chiefs, Castro and Flaco — set out for an extended 'Cam- 
paign far out into the Indian country. 

Breaking camp on Walnut Greek, near Austin, on Octo- 
ber 5, 1840, the company bore up the Coloradoi for a distance 
of some 300 miles to the vicinity of where Colorado/ City 
now stands. On October 23, the Indian <tra.il wasi found o/n 
the Red Fork of the' Colorado and dashing forward the Li- 
pan spies soon located a considerable villagte of Comam- 
chesi — 60 wigwams and about 150 wairriorsi — on the south 
bank of the river. Herding the beeves in a mesquite flat 
and leaving them to Fortune's chance, the Texans marched 
up in closer proximity to the enemy, halted at midnight and 
planned an attack to take place at dawn. A fierce "wet 
norther" was blowing. The unsuspecting Coimanches slum- 
bered comfortably under biuffaloi robe's in their skim-cov- 
ered teepees, while the Texans had only the blue sidereal 
dotme for a covering and shivered in the chill light of the 
stars. As the first rays of light glimmer ed across! the wild 
and wind-swept plains, the troops wane ordered to mount, 
deploy and move rapidly to the onslaught — Lieut. Clark 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



333 



L. Owens with fifteen picked men as cavalry were deployed 
to cut off any retreat of the enemy; Capt. Rabb with his 
couiinand to the right, and Oapt. l>awsoaii with hie contin- 
gent upon the left; the Lipans being with the center advanc- 
cing column. What happened when the village was reached 
is best told by Col. Moore himself: 

"At the break of day, on Saturday, the 24th of October, 
I ordered the troops to mount and march. I soon ascen- 
ded' the hill, and ordered] Lieut, dark L. Owen to take com- 
mand of fifteen men taken from the companies, to act as 
cavalry, to cut off any retreat of the enemy. I ordered Capt. 
Thomas J. Rabb, with his command, up the right, Lieut. 
Owen in the center, and Oapt. Nicholas M. Dawson, with 
his command, upon the left. Just before reaching the vil- 
lage I had to descend the hill, which brought us 'within two 
hundred paces of the enemy. I then ordered Lieut. Owen 
with his command to the right of Capt. Rabb's cooninand. 
I then ordered a charge -of the whole upon (the village, 
which was obeyed instanter. The enemy fled for the river, 
which was in the shape of a half moon, encircling the vil- 
lage. Immediately upon charging the village, a general, ef- 
fective fire was opened upon the enemy, who soon com- 
menced falling upon the right and left. After charging 
pretty nearly through their encampment, the men dismount- 
ed from their horses, and continued the fire upon the 
enemy, as they were retreating to the river. Many were 
slain before they reached the river, in which they totok ref- 
uge — many of whom w r ere killed or drowned. Some, how- 
ever, succeeded in: crossing the stream and making off thro' 
the prairie on the opposite side. At this time, Leut. Owen 
crossed over and commenced cutting off their retreat. In 
this the gallant lieutenant, succeeded admirably. During 
all this time, the fire wias kept up most effectively at the 
river for the space of thirty minutes. 

"When the enemy had reached the opposite bank, 
then it was that my troops displayed their skill in rifle 
shooting. Every man w 7 as deliberate and at the crack of 



334 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



his piece it was apparent that good aim had) been taken. 
The river and its banks now presented every evidence of a 
total defeat of our savage foes. The bodies of men, women 
and children were to be seen on every hand, wounded, dy- 
ing, and dead. Having found that the work of death and 
destruction had been fully consummated here, I accordingly 
ordered my troops to, cross the river, and a portion to act 
in concert with Leut. Owen. With the residue, I ordered a 
general charge in pursuit of the Indians who were at- 
tempting to effect their escape. My men were soon seen 
flying in every direction through the prairie, and their 
valor told that the enemy was entirely defeated. The 
pursuit ceased at the distance of four miles from the paint 
of attack, and finding that the enemy was entirely over- 
thrown, I ordered my men to the encampment. 

"The number of prisoners taken and brought into camp 
in small parties amounted to thirty four, seven of whom 
escaped during a stampede of our horses on a very 
dark night, besides three I left behind. 

"I instituted an examination into the number slain, and 
from the best information, there were 48 killed upon the 
ground and 80 killed and drowned in the river. This num- 
ber is considered by the troops as being too smadl an esti- 
mate of the number actually killed and destroyed in the en- 
gagement. I had two men slightly wounded, Mr. Dough- 
erty of Colorado county, and Mr. M. F. Jioues of Fayette 
— two horses were also wounded in the engagement. 

"At 10 o'clock my troops had all returned. I then or- 
dered the village to be destroyed by fire, and in fifteen 
minutes the whole 'encampment, with all property of every 
description, including more than three hundred saddles, and 
a large number of skins of various kinds was in flames. 

"I then ordered the troops to, march, assigning a suf- 
ficient guard to herd ai?d drive the immense caballado of 
horses which bad been captured from the enemy, in number 
about five hundred, and then turned my course for this 
place, marching by the position where I had left my beef 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



335 



cattle. After herding my cattle, I marched about six miles 
and encamped for the night. The weather on my return 
was unfavorable — had to lie in camp two days on account of 
the north winds and rain. The distance from the city of 
Austin to the battle ground, I estimate at full three hun- 
dred miles, and from the best information I havie been 
able to obtain from the Lipan Chief, and those of the Ser- 
atic tribe of Indians with whom we miet, I would say that 
we penetrated more than half way to the city of Banta Fe. 
Upon my return, near the old Mission of San Saba, I fell 
in with ia small party of Indians of the Seratie tribe, fifteen 
in number. After a consultation held between them and Cas- 
tro, the Lipan chief, I concluded to bring in two of their 
captains, as they appeared friendly and desirous to treat 
with us, and 1 to aid' us in our wars with the Comanches, with 
whom they are also hostile. They represent their tribe as 
residing in the vicinity of the Rio Grande, between Santa 
Fe and Chihuahua, and that they have about, eight hundred 
warriors. 

"Two sprightly Mexican youths, between the ages of 
fourteen and sixteen, were recaptured during the battle, 
whom the Comanches had made captives in the vicinity of 
Catmargo, on the Rio Grande, about three months since. 

"Great credit is due Oastro and his men, seventeen in 
number, who acted as spies during the campaign'. They 
proved faithful and active throughout, and the Government 
should be particular in retaining their friendship, for as 
spies, they are unsurpassed. 

"In conclusion, let me remark that tooi much credit can- 
not be awarded to the of fieers of my command for their gal- 
lant and officer-like conduct and bearing during the entire 
campaign, and particularly during the engagement. And it 
affords me the greatest pleasure to inform your Department 
of the manner in which both officers and privates dis- 
charged! their duties, always ready and ever willing to obey 
any order however arduous the performance might be. 



336 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



"My men have returned in good health and fine spirits, 
though much fatigued. 

I have the honor to remain, 

Your most obedient servant, 
J aim H. Moore, 
C 1840. 

— Austin City Gazette, Nov. 11 ol. Commanding Volunteers." 



October 21, Col. A. Siomerville wrote to Oapt. A. Neill 
regarding the proposed grand expedition against the Indians 
in November. He said that he had been informed that NeiH 
intended to raise a company, and requests him to muster 
and organize it iatnd report with the command by November 
10, at Fort Buntaington, on Brushy Creek, the rendezvous 
designated by Maj. Gen. Felix Huston. 

Thomas G. Stubblefield, Texas government agent for the 
Alabamas and Cooshatties, says in a letter* dated Novem- 
ber 2, ad/dressed to Secretary of State, Abner S. Lipscomb, 
that those Indians 'were on the reservation set apart for 
them and were welil pleased; but, that the survey of the 
lands, while in progress, was not completed. 

Tfhe Austin City Gazette of November 11, publishes a 
nicely worded note, signed by a number of leading citizens 
inviting Col. John II. Moore aud men (who had returned 
from an Indian expedition and were camped near town) 
to attend a barbecue wfhicli 'would be given in their honor 
Monday, November 16; and, also, Col. Moore's reply ex- 
tending thanks to the committee and citizens for the invi- 
tation, but saying that most of his men had been away 
from their families far a long time 'and were anxious to get 
home and he and his ctommiamd were, therefore, unable to< ac- 
cept the invitation. 

Nothing fulfill or seems to have. been, done toward launch- 
ing into the wilds the ''grand expedition" that had been so 
much d iseuss ed . 



5*- Army Archives. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



337 



The work done by Moore and; his followers was of such 
a thorough nature and so far reaching in its effects, that it 
was doubtless deemed unnecessary to go to th« expense 
and trouble of other expeditions for awhile. 



On Gillelaud Creek, in Travis county-, July 4, a party 
of Indians killed and scalped a negro girl, who belonged 
to Mr. Cliptooi. She was driving caws tome and hollowed 
at them. Her cries attracted the attention of the Imdiams, 
who crept toward her through the tall grass unperceived atnd 
shot her without warning. 

Usually Indians did (not kill ne-gro. slaves, but held them 
for large ransoms, which they seldom, or never, failed to 
get. In this instance, and in some others, the love of blood 
was stronger with them than the love of gain. "When cir- 
cumstances were 1 such as to- preclude the savages from hold- 
ing negroes for ransom, the darkies were killed, and gener- 
ally scalped, like other victims. 



INDIAN TROUBLES ALONG BED RIVER. 

Shifting the scene of conflict — the bloody warfare Be- 
tween the red mem and whites was being waged all along 
the frontiers — we will give some incidents that transpired, 
in the extreme northern part of the Republic. The follow- 
ing m related by that early pioneer and historian of that 
section, the late Judge J. P. Simpson: 

4 'In the winter and spring of 1839 anil '40 the citizens 
at Fort luiglish, Warren and Preston moved home to the 
Fort with the determination to defend themselves and prop- 
erty against the foTays of the Indians, the effort of the gov 
erannent having proved abortive to give protection to these 
settlers, on account of it. Jack of men and resources ad- 
equate for the purpose. The* president was opposed to a war 
policy, and f avoring pacific and treaty measures, instruct- 
ed the officers and requested the citizens to use their influ- 
ence and energy in collecting detached and broken tribes of 
Indians then scattered over the Republic, in order that they 



338 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



might be treated with, and reservations of land be granted 
them for settlement. Dr. D. Rowlett, congressman from 
this district, had collected a small part, of a tribe of Coo- 
shattees at his place on Red River, and had the oversight 
of them until they could be provided for by the govern- 
ment. 

"Daniel Dugan, who lived some miles south/west of War- 
ren, was of ten annoyed by the Indians. His son, Daniel, was 
killed by them while at work a short distance from the 
house. His house was attacked -at night, one man killed 
and another wounded. The circumstances) and incident® of 
the killing I will more minutely detail. Tiiree young men — 
Green, Hoover and Gordon — were occupying one room of the 
house, the old man Dugan and family the other room., and G. 
C. Dugan (who died recently in California) and his brother, 
William, occupied the stable loft to guard their 'horses. 
The young men .had) retired to bed (the family had; not re- 
tired) when the Indians suddenly forced, open the dtoor of 
the room in which the young men were sleeping, andl dis- 
charged a number of shots into the bed, killing Green, 
wounding Hoover, and then rushed into the house. Gor- 
don seized the door-shuttetr and with force closed the door, 
throwing the Indians to> the outside, where the dogs at- 
tacked them, and they commenced shooting the dogs, and 
the old man Dugan shooting at them as fast as he could, 
and they at him in the house with his family. During this 
dangerous, exciting, conflict^ George and- William were not 
idle spectators of the surroundings. The moon was shining 
very brightly and they had discovered an Indian who had 
set his gun at the door, and during the fight at the house 
had been working at the lock trying to get the houses out. 
He was in such a position, however, that those in the loft 
could not shoot him. After the fight was over at the house 
two Indians came up to the stable with lariats on their 
Becks, when the Dugans let them have the contents of their 
guns. One of the Indians fell dead and the other ran a 
short distance and fell, uttering savage groans in his dy- 
ing agonies. The Indian at the stable door then ran off, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 339 

leaving his gun. The Indians then began to 'blow on their 
whistles and hoot like owls, as a signal to rally and 1 get to- 
gether. 

"Next morning the dead Indian was found to have on 
a calico hunting shirt which Dr. Rowlett had given him, 
and the gun at the door proved to belong to the Cooshattee 
ehie f who lived at Dr. Rowlett 's. Catherine, the youngest 
daughter of Dandel Dugan, had solemnly vowed when her 
brother, Daniel, was killed, scalped, and tomahawked, that 
site would' cut off the head of the first Indian she got a 
chance at. She accordingly shouldered an ax and march- 
ing to the stable, as bold as an experienced and 
adroit surgeon going to dissect a subject, with a 
few direct blows severed the head from the bodjy and' 
carried it to the house as a trobhy of revenge for the mur- 
der of her brother. The headless body was left as food for 
beasts of prey. I saw the skull about the house years 
after. 

The old lady Dugan was . very smart, industrious eco- 
nomical, domesticially inclined woman, nyuch more so> th€n 
women of today. She spun' he"* thread, wove her cloth and 
made her own wearing apparel. She found use for the In- 
dian slcull as one otf the fixtures to her loom as a quill 
gourd and had it attached accordingly. Catherine married 
a Methodist preacher, B. W. Taylor, and moved to OaM 
tenia." 



FATE OF A PIONEER FAMILY — OTHER TRAGEDIES. 

The following incidents occurred during 1840, but the 
exact dates have not been preserved: 

Dr. Hunter and family— consisting of his wife, nearly 
grown son, three daughters (aged respectively, about ten, 
twelve and eighteen years), and negro woman- — located in 
tile Red River valley at a point about eight miles below Old 
Warren and several miles from any neighbor. Subsequently 
his eldest daughter married William Lankford of Warren and 
settled at another place. Sometime thereafter Dr, Hunter 



340 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



aaxl his son left home. During their absence his ten and 
twelve year old daughters were attacked ait a spring, about 
a hundred yards froin the bouse, and one of them killed and 
scalped, and the other taken prisoner by eleven Indians. The 
Indians crept to the house and rushed into it a/nd killed 
Mrs. Hunter and the negro woman, and scalped the former, 
but not the latter. They then looted the premises, and were 
just disappearing from view, w r hen young Hunter returned. 
He called to his mother, but received no repfly, and running 
through the open doorway, stumbled over her lifeless and 
mangled body. The little girl was compelled by the Indians 
to dress (her own mother's scalp. Six months, or a year, 
later she 'was (sold to friendly Choc taws and, her brother 
learning of the fact, went to the Nation and ransomed her. 

Mclnltyre and his family located near Shawneetown iai 
what is now Grayson county; but being annoyed by the In- 
dians, anoved to what is known as Mclntyre's crossing on 
the Choctaw, in the same county. Moody, who resided in 
the same region, started to Warren on business arid at dusk, 
when opposite Mclntyre's house, was shot and killed by 
Indians, who scalped him, built a bon-fire and laid his body 
cm it, and danced and yelled around the pyre all night. Mc- 
Intyre and his trwo sons, the latter aged respectively twelve 
and fourteen years, plainly heard the noise, and barricaded 
the doors of their cabin, expecting to be attacked. Some 
months later his sons were killed and scalped while hunting. 

Two brothers, named Sewell, living at Old Warren, 
heard a noise in their horse lot at night and one of 
them went out to investigate. When nea' the lot, a voice 
called to him, saying: "Lay the gap lower." Believing that 
white thieves were trying to steal the Stock, he exclaimed': 
i ; I 've caught you ! ' ' 

A moment later he was struck in the breast by an ar- 
row. He ran to the house, exclaiming as he passed his broth- 
er: "I am shot," and, staggering on a few feet further, fell 
dead. The Indian who, killed him pursued him closely; but 
being confronted by the other Sewell, halted and was in the 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



341 



act of discharging an arrow at his new antagonist when he 
was fired on and killed by the surviving brother. 

Moody, the* Mclntyre boys, and young SeweH were 
btelieved to have been killed by Shawnees, but the white 
people were not able to confirm the suspicion by proof. 
their part, ithe Shawnees disclaimed having committed, ths 
mfurders, and charged them to "wild Indians." 



SAVING OSBORN S SCALP. 

Claiborne and/ Lee Osborn, James Hamilton and several 
other young men separated while buffalo hunting — Claiborne 
Osborn and James Hamilton going in one direction and their 
companions in another. Indians attacked and pursued 1 Os^ 
born and! Hamilton, badly wounding the horse of Osborn. 
The young men galloped from the spot toward where their 
comrades could be found ; but had 1 gone only 1 a short dis- 
tance when Osborn 's horse fell throwing him heavily to the 
ground. Hamilton kept on, reached 1 the other huntters, ami 
dashedi back to the rescue with them. They arrived barely 
in time to save Osborn 's life. He was lying where he fell, 
Indian® were all around Mm, beating and stabbing; him, 
and had. partly removed his scalp. A fusilade from the 
party sent the Indian® scurrying to the cedar brakes. Osh 
bora's scalp was carefully replaced and, in time, healed. 
He settled near Webberville, Travis county, where he lived 
many years and reared a large and respectable family. 

Kenney says: ' ' From a fierce raid on Bastrop the trail 
of retreat led through Burleson county • * •. They (the 
Indians) were pursued by Gen. Burlesoo with a party of citi- 
zens, and seven Indians killed. Around Austin * * the pre- 
datory incursions continued without cessation, the Wacofs 
and Comanehes chiefly dividing the responsibility." 

"At Port Inglish, * * * two boys named Cox were cap- 
tured. The Indians were chased, but made good their es- 
cape, carrying away the captives. On the way, they killed 
a one-armed man and cut off his remaining arm, which at 
night they roasted and ate, making (signs to the boys that 



342 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



they would soon eat them also. But they did not, ajnd six 
months afterwards the boys were purchased by traders and 
sent home,"* 



The year elosed with a large portion of Texas conquer- 
ed from the ravage foes of settlement land civilization, and 
further redemption of (the wilderness assured. It is remark- 
able that so much should have been accomplished when the 
public treasury was empty, the Republic unable to borrow 
money, and the paper currency of Texas was circulated with 
difficulty at only a small fraction of its nominal value. The 
only explanation is that both government and people co-op- 
erated loyally for the attainment of the object in view, and 
looked to the future, instead' of the present, for reward — 
a sane prescience and valiant optimism that hastened in- 
crease of population, wealth and security as nothing else 
could have done. 

Casting up the account today, it can be truthfully said 
the price was none (to great for that which it obtained for 
those who paid it, and for those who have come after them. 



* Scarf f 'a "Comprehensive History of Texas.' 



CHAPTER XIV. 



HE year 1841 has been treated by Texas 
historians as one practically free from In- 
dian atrocities and. serious depredations — a 
fact due to their not having access to ar- 
chives and other sources of information 
that are now available. While the list 
of horrors perpetrated by the vanishing 
race — still strong enough to strike, and 
with hatred and sanguinary impulses inten- 
sified rather than diminished by what it 
had suffered) — was not so long and gruesome as those of 
some former years, it was still of an extent to harrow the 
sympathies and make the blood run cold, and requires the 
year to foe marked) in red in' the annals of the common- 
wealth. 

The struggle for mastery was yet on, and w T as prose- 
cuted by the Anglo-Americans with a courage and a reso- 
lution that came down to them from Senlac, Agincourt 
and Crecy, and that has ever caused them to reject from 
the hands of Fortune anything save victory and dominion, 
when waging contests for supremacy. The reader will 
therefore find that the incidents of border warfare in 
Texas in 1841, are not inferior in interest to those thaft pre- 
ceded them. 




3M BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 

INTERNAL AFFAIRS — INDIAN HOSTILITIES. 

The Fifth Congress passed a joint resolution, approved 
Jan. 6, 1841, providing ' ' That the stun of $10,000.00, which 
was appropriated for the purpose of volunteer expeditions 
against the hostile Indians on the upper Brazos river be, 
and the same is hereby, transferred for the purpose of rais- 
ing and subsisting any force that the President may author- 
ise to be raised* for said expedition." 

An act of Congress, approved January 18, abolished) the 
office of Secretary of the Navy and devolved the duties of 
that; office on the Secretary of "War, who was afterwards 
sometimes addressed by his former title but more often and 
correctly as Secretary of "War and Marine. The act abol- 
ished, or consolidated, various other offices; required the 
President to reduce the number of officer® holding commis- 
sions in the regular army, and provided that all further re- 
cruiting for the army should be discontinued. 

The Travis Guards, a uniformed company, were incor- 
porated by an act approved January 23. 

January 23, Capt, John T. Price, who had just complet- 
ed! a scout to the west with his spy com(pany, sent a des- 
patch* to the Secretary of War, containing such informa- 
tion as he could gather concerndng the intention of Mexico 
to invade Texas — an event that was then deemed cer- 
tain to occur during the spring, or summer, but whichi was 
prevented by a series of fortuitous circumstances, that be- 
friended Texas, as it had been several times before. He said 
that it was reported that an army of 10,000 men was being 
mobilized and that it would be reinforced by each: of the 
Mexican states furnishing 2,000 men. 

The Galveston Artillery Company, a uniformed company, 
was incorporated by an act of Congress, approved Jan. 30. 

An acti, approved Feb. 1, appropriated $8,000.00 for 
the support of troops then on the frontier under the com- 
mand of Col. Win. G. Cooke. 



*Arcny Archives. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



345 



An act approved! February 4, 1841, authorized the set- 
tlers on the frontier borders of each of the f ollowing coun- 
ties to organize a company of not less than) twenty nor more 
than fiftynsax mdnairte men, rank and 1 file: Fannin, Lamar, 
Red River, BowtLe, Paschal, Panola, Nacogdoches, Houston, 
Robertson, MiLaim, Travis, Bexar, Gonzales, Goliad, Victoria, 
Refugio, San Patricio, Montgomery and Bastrop. The com- 
panies were to elect their own officers and hold themselves 
in readiness to afford a ready and active protection to -the 
frontier settlements'. The act provided: "The members of 
©aid companies shall at all times be prepared 'with a good 
subsftamtial horse, bridle and! saddle, with other necessary ac- 
coutrements, together with a good gun and 1 -one hundred 
rounds of arc munition ; and in (addition to this, wheo called 
into service, such num'ber of rations as the captain: may di- 
rect. * * * The captains' * * * may, when the}' deem it pru- 
dent, detail from their companies a number of spies, not 
more thatn five, to' act upon the frontiers of their several 
counties." 

Members of the companies were exempted from the pay- 
ment of state, county and corporation poll ffeax aind! the tax 
assessed by law upoai! one saddle horse, and 1 from the per- 
formance of any kind: of military duty 'and working on the 
public roads. 

The pay provided for eacQi minute main was one dollar 
per diay for sen-vice actually rendered; "provided," says 
the act, "that the members of the companies shall noit re- 
ceive pay on amy one expedition for a longer period than 
fifteen days; and, on the several expeditions within one year 
after their organization, shall not receive pay for a longer 
period than four months in the aggregate, excepting the spies, 
for every year thereafter * 

Possibly about tftnis time (the date is uncertain) a num- 
ber of settlers, who had come to Warren, Fanniin county, to 
attend district court, which was to convene the following 
d<ay, were gathered Sunday night around a stove in a tavern 
kept by Capt. Sowell and J. S. Scott, and were industriously 



346 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



engaged in stowing toddies and talking. They were sudden- 
ly startled by a commotion in the stable and horse lot of the 
tavern, and rushed out injto the -darkness and toward the 
spot- — -most of them neglecting to take their firearms with 
them. As tliey surmised they would, they found that In- 
dians were attempting to steal the stock. Capt. Sowell, 
who was in front, 'fired has pistol at the marauders, without 
effect, and was himself shot and 1 instantly killed, one arrow 
penetirating his stomach and another entering his back and 
coming out in front. Scott killed an Indian, and the 
balance of the redskins took to their heels. The district court 
organized, hut imjmediiately adjourned and the judge, law- 
yers and litigants started for home, upon a scout informing 
them he had discovered the trail o*' a large band of Indians 
going in the direction of Fori Inglish. Oapt. Bird, — Simp- 
son and several others waited until night to set forth, and 
had gone but a shoa.it distance when they stopped for Oapt. 
Bud to recover his hat, which had fallen off. "While he was 
looking for it, a number of Indians ran toward the party, 
yelling and shooting arrows. Simpson fired his shot gun at 
them and cried in a stentorian voice, as if addressing a com- 
pany of rangers : ' ' Charge ! ' ' The effect on the Indians was 
magical ; they tore into wcods as if Jack Hays, thimself, was 
after them, and the travelers wended their way toward 
where they were going, possibly without wasting time on the 
hat or complimenting Simpson on his ready, resonrcefuii wit. 

January 9, Judge James Smith and son, of Austin, the 
latter mounted behind the Judge on a horse, were pursued 
by Indians near the capital. Father and son were well 
mounted and might have escape but for the fact that, rid- 
ing tinder a trlee they were knocked off by one of the limbs. 
Scrambling to their feet, they ran into a thicket; but were 
pursued by the Indians, who killed and sealped Judge Smith, 
and took the boy into captivity. On the same day a broth- 
er of Jludge Smith was chased by Indians, but escaped 1 by 
the fleetness of his horse. Ten days later Judge Smith's 
father-in-law, while cutting a bee-tree four miles south of 
Austin, was killed and scalped by Indians. 



BORDER WARS OF, TEXAS. 



347 



In a despatch dated January 10, Capt. Benjamin T. 
Gilliam, of the 1st Infantry, commandant at San Antonio, 
says that Capt. Jack Hays and his spy company were on a 
scout toward the Nueces and) Rio Grande, and a report was 
daily expected from him, and that Mexican banditti, who in- 
fested the Mexican border and preyed upon ranches and trad- 
ers, had committed thefts of horses and cattle. 



OFFICIAL REPORTS OF BORDER DOINGS. 

Capt. Geo. M, Dolson of Travis County Minute Men 
made the following report* to Secretary of War Branch T. 
Archer, April 2 : 

"I have the honor to report that the company of minute 
men, under my command, was organized' on the 28th ult. On 
the 29th I sent Lt. Newcomsb and two men to reconnoitre 
Brushy, who returned the next day and reported a fresh 
trail of Indians leading towards Austin. A portion of my 
men were soon mounted, and accompanied by some volun- 
teers, went in immediate pursuit. We were unsuccessful 
in finding these Indians, but discovered the trail of the 
party who had stolen Capt. Brown's honse a few nights pre- 
vious. We followed the trail and succeeded in graining- their 
vicinity, a few miles above the Perdenales river. Here I or- 
dered a halt for the purpose of refreshing our horses, hav- 
ing traveled about sixty miles in twenty-four hours over a 
mountainous country. I sent out my spies' (mounted on the 
best horses*) who returned, bringing into camjp three of the 
eujemy's caballado and reporting fresh signs in the Colora- 
do bottom. At midnight we were in our saddles and again 
upon their trail, wfljtlh the hope of discovering their camp and 
attacking them at dawn ; but the darkness \of the night pre- 
vented. Having halted again for a short time, we continued 
onr route. At daybreak We discovered their horses, and a 
few minutes afterwiards found ourselves upon their camp. 
The action commenced, on the part of the Indians, by a rap- 



* Array Archives. 



348 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



id discharge of rifles. We immediately charged, aaid) dtwwe 
tihem from their camp. Twice they rallied, under ordiers of 
their chief, who acted' with 1 considerable bravery ; but noth- 
ing could stop the impetuosity of my men, and) the Indians 
broke in every direction, leaving us: in possession of their 
camp. The nature of the ground 1 wouH not admit the ope- 
ration of cavalry, but we pursued them a short di&tance on 
foot. They were suffered to escape, however, bearing off 
their wounded, the number of which could not be ascer- 
tained, and leaving their chief and seven others dead on 
the fieMi We returned) from the chase, burned their bows 
and arrows, and' destroyed the camp. We arrived in town 
last night, bringing the horse that had; been stolen from 
Captain Brown. I am happy to say, none of my men were 
wounded. I, myself, received in the commencement of the 
ehase, one shot in my breast and one in my thigh. My horse 
was also shot through the neck. After being shot,, I con- 
tinued the chase on foot until so completely exhausted I 
could neither proceed further nor command my men. At this 
instant, Captain Danielsi came gallantly to my aid, and called 
to the men, 'Fo>r God's sake,' not to permit the charge to 
end! At this I was satisfied and desisted) from further ef- 
forts to proceed. The men under Captain Daniels continued 
the charge until the Indians were dispersed. The Indians 
numbered aboufl thirty-five/' 



ben Mcculloch routes party of Indians. 

Early in May., (3a pt. Ben McCuilloeh and fifteen com- 
panions (Arthur Swift, James H. Callahan, Wilson Randell, 
Greeai McCoy, Eli T. Hankins, Archibald Gipson, W. A. HalL 
Henry E. McCulloch, James^ Roberts, Jeremiah Roberts, Thoa 
R. Nichols, Capit. Wan. Toralinson, William P. Kincainnon, 
Alisey S. Miller and William Morrison) marching from Gon- 
zales to the principal mountain tributary of the Guadalupe, 
and thence to where Johnson's Fork of the Iiano empties 
in&o the latter stream, surprised and attacked! an encamp- 
ment of twenty-two Indians at dawn. Five Indians were 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



349 



killed, and half the remainder wounded. They last every- 
thing except the <arms they had in their haaids. Some of 
the same Lnddans had' stolen horses at Goaizales. McCulloch 
did not putrsue them immediately thereafter, as there would 
have been little probability of overtaking them. He waited 
for several days, so that tihey would] believe that no puirsuit 
was intended and relax their vigilance. The result attested 
the wisdom of the plan adopted. 



SERVICES OF CHANDLER'S RANGING COMPANY. 

Capt. Eli Chandler, of the Robertson County Minute 
Men, writing to Secretary of War Braneh T. Archer, from 
Franklin, April 16, 1841, says: 

4 ' I beg leave to report that the company of minute men 
under my command wais organized on the 29th of March. * * 
* ® Upon the evening of tftie 9th of April I received infor- 
mation that an Indian enemy had killied Mr. Stephen Rog 1 - 
ers, Jr., and had driven away eight head of horses from 
the easterly side of the !Nav asota River. I immediately 
collected twenty-five of my men and, by a forced march,, 
wais enabled to come up with two of them about 11 o'clock 
a. m. of the 11th inst., at the distance of two mfl.es, moving 
the stolen horses. * * * I immediately gave chase at full 
speed for the distance of seven miles and * * * recovered' 
aM: of the horses * * * and took one from the enemy. I am 
sorry to< say that, from the jaded condition of ofiir horses 
and the start which they had, they were able to elude us. 
While we must regret their escape, it affords me pleasure 
to say that, from the perseverance manifested on the march 
and in the chase by every man under my command, I be- 
lieve that nothing is wanting on the part of this commaaid 
but a fair opportunity, to sustain that character for chiv- 
alry which is always anticipated from Texas citizens." 

Further supplementing his report to the Secretary of 
War, Captain Chandler says: w * * * On the 16th inst. I 
received information from spies that they had accidentally 
met Messrs. Hardesty and Porter, who had been despatched 



350 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



by CoL Thos. L Smith and B. J. Chambers (who were on a 
surveying expedition) to inform me that they had discovered 
the appearance of a body of Indians on Pecan Creek, a 
tributary of the 'Trinity River, ait the distance of about one 
hundred' miles from this place. I forthwith took up the line 
of march with forty-five men of my command, and was 
joined on the march by Thos. I. Smith and) Mr. Branch 
(both of Milam county), R J. Chambers, C. M. Winkler, 
John Copeland, F. Flint and M. M. Ferguson, as volunteers, 
making the aggregate force fifty-three* 

i 1 On the morning of the 20th, by traveling all of the 
preceding night, I was able to gain a position in the neigh- 
borhood of the * * : * Indians, and believing that we had not 
been discovered, I concealed my men and despatched recon- 
noitering parties, which resulted in Lieut* Love reporting 
his having found, down the Creek a few miles, a deserted 
village, which had been visited within a few days by the en- 
emy. But the lateness of the hour induced me to remain un- 
til the dawn of the next morning, at which time we took tip 
the line of march for the deserted village. Having pro- 
ceeded about five miles, we discovered; at the distance of 
three hundred yards, eight or ten of the enemy, * * * im- 
mediately gave chase, and ptarsued them about three milea 
in a contrary direction, as we afterwards learned, from their 
village, but by their superior knowledge of the woods,, the/r 
evaded' us. I then retrograded to hunt the deserted village, 
which we found, containing twenty-eight lodges, and! also a 
trail, which we pursued. At the distance of one mile we dis- 
covered our former foe, on the same trail. I immediately 
charged with all my force at full speed' on the path, which 
ran on a ridge not more than three hundred or four hun- 
dred yards wide, enclosed on each side by two creeks- run- 
ning nearly paraMel, and on each side of which was an ex- 
tended bottom, grown up with underwood so as to be im- 
passable for horsemen, a distance of about five miles, wthieh 
brought us up with the enemy's new village, without over- 
taking them; but continuing directly through the camp, 
thereby alarming men, women and children, who all f3e$ 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



351 



before we could' get within gunshot distance, to almost im- 
penetrable thickets, abandoning every vestige of their prop- 
erty. I had dismounted my men, leaving the captured prop- 
erty staid our horses under charge of Lieut. Love and a de- 
tachment, and commenced scouring the bottom, and succeeded 
in collecting some property; and had a few shots from the 
enemy, which, were returned with effect. During my absence. 
Lieu4 Love received a few shots, which were promptly re- 
turned with effect. 

"I have only to report Col. F. I. Smith slightly wound- 
ed in tiie hand; three of the enemy killed, some wounded; 
and nine mules, twenty-three horses, some powdter, lead! and 
axes, pellts, etc., taken — all of which we estimate worth 
three thousand 1 dollars, 

"After burning their village and destroying every thing 
that could he useful, wthieh we could not transport, I took up 
the lane of march for this place, and arrived here last night, 
aM well," 



Yucatan declared its independence May 16, and engaged 
in war with. Mexico, which gave the latter country some- 
thing, besides invading Texas, to think about. This circum- 
stance was of course fortrunate for the people of Texas. 
Nevertheless, peace did not prevail, as the Indians were con- 
stantly plundering and murder Bug in all parts of the Repub- 
lic, and more esepecially a&ong the northern frontier during 
this year. 



BIRD'S FORT. 

As a prelude to what follows, it must be remembered 
that lalfe as 1841, Clarksville was the most westerly town of 
any note in the valley of Reds River — there were scattered 
settlements in Lamar and Fannin counties ; principally 
along the river ; and a few cabins along the .Sulphurs, and 
between these streams and Red River, high up as Fort Ing- 
lish, (near where Bonham now stands) ; at old; Warren (in 
Fannin county) ; and the most westerly settlement at 



352 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Bre&tan, opposite the mouth of the Washita River, known 
as Coffee's Trading House. 

Bands of hostile Indians were constantly depredating on 
tiles e exposed settleanetnts and murdefrinig the less protected 
inhabitants — as their massacre of the Ripley family on Rip- 
ley 's Creek, in Titus county, early in April, 1841,* 
and various outrages in the Warren neighborhood and else- 
wtheare, as we shall narrate. 

In the winter of 1840-41, Captain John Bird or- 
ganized and led a company of three! months rangers 
from Bowie and Red River counties, up tine Trinity 
River, for the purpose of locating and establishing a 
military post, as a means of encouraging settlements in that 
section. At that time there was/ a law of the Republic donat- 
ing lands for this purpose. A site was chosen, and a stock- 
ade erected, some two or three miles east of the preseoit 
town of Birdville, on Irhe Main or West fork of the Trinity, 
which was named Bird's Fort, but for some cause — the time 
of. their enlistment expiring — the rangers returned home, 
leaving the post unoccupied. A little later Capt. Robert 
Sloan led a prospecting party <as far out as the fort; hut 
soon returned, one of the party, David Olubb, late of Illi- 
nois, and :a soldier in the Black Hawk war of 1832, havicoig 
been killed by Indians at a small lake Elm fork of the 
Trinity, a short* distance above its .mouth, and below the 
Keenan crossing. 

Following these expeditions, in tthe fall of 1'841, the 
brave and hardy pioneers, Hamp Rattan, Captain Ma- 
bel Gilbert, :and John Beeman, with their families, and a 



*Early in April Indians attacked the Ripley family at their homeon theold Cherokee 
trace, on Ripley Creek, in Titus county. Mr. Ripley was absent from home at the time. 
His son (twenty years of age) was shot and killed while plowing in the field; his eldest 
daughter (about sixteen years old) was shot and killed while running frcrn the house; two 
younger daughters escaped by reaching and taking ref uge in a thicket. Mrs. Ripley and 
all of her smaller children save one were beaten to death with clubs while trying to make 
their way to a cane brake situated two hundred yards from their cabin. The child, not 
with the mother, was asleep in the house and was burned to death, the Indians plundering 
snd then setting fire to the habitation which was reduced to aahes. This horrible crime 
led to the organization of a retalitory expedition, which took some time to organize in that 
sparsely settled- section, and which was led into the Indian country by Gen. Tarrant. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



353 



few single men, located at Bird's Fort- Expecting to find 
an abundance of game in the country, the settlers carried 
out a scant supply of provisions, but the Indians had burn- 
ed off the grass from .all that section, and imo gaoine of any 
kind was to be found. So, late in November of this yeai% 
a wagon Was sent back to Red River for supplies. Being 
overdue, three of the setters, Alex W. Webb, (in 1905 liv- 
ing at Mesquite, in Dallas county), Solomon Silkwood, and 
Hamp Rattan, went in search of the wagon party. Reaching 
a point -about one and) a half miles south-east of the present 
town of Carrollton, on fvhe east side of Elm Fork, Christmas 
day, they halted to cut a bee tiree, when they were attacked 
by a small party of concealed Indians. Rattan was killed • 
but) Webb and Silkwood, after killing one of the Indians, 
escaped to the fort. One of the single men now 
went out, and soon met thef relief wagon, which reached the 
scene of the tragedy on the 30th of the month, where they 
found Rattan 's body, still guarded by this faithful dog. Tht" 
remains were carried' to the fort, and in a rude coffin made 
of an old wagon bed, committed to earth. This worthy pio- 
neer and martyr was a brother of Mm. A. J. Witt (de- 
ceased) of Dallas county, and Mi's. W. J. Throckmorton and 
Mrs. Wm, Fitzhugh, of Collin county. Two of his brothers- 
John and]' Littleton Rattan participated in the Village Creek 
fight. 

At the time of the tragedy snow was six inches deep 
and the weather intensely cold, and from the exposure on the 
trip, Silkwood sickened and ditd And thus commenced the 
first permanent settlement on the upper waters of the Trin- 
ity. 



GENERAL TARRANT'S EXPEDITION. 

General Edward) Tarrant was a gallanjt soldier, and one 
of the successful leaders of volunteers and rangers in the 
defense of the northeastern! part of Texas against Indians. 
He was 'also- a brilliant and noted lawyer — long residing hbl 
Bowie county, but later removing to Ellis county, where he 



354 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



died*. The success of the expedition which he headed against 
the great Indian eneanipmnt on Village Creek in 1841, was 
reason foir attaching hisi name to tihe county embracing the 
-theatre of !i£si fearless exploit^ otn that occasion. The hon- 
or conferred was well bestowed. The location of (this for- 
midable force of depredating Indians was at a point some 
distance east of Fort Worth, audi a few miles west of tihe 
town of Arlington, a little south of where the Texas 'and Pa- 
cific railroad crosses Village Creek 1 — within sight of the m- 
fterurhani cars that now speed to and fipo- every few minutes 
between Fort Worth and Dallas. 

No full and reliable narrative of Tarrant's expedition, 
the Village Creek fight and tragic death of the celebrated 
jpaoneer preacher, lawyer and Indian fighter — John B, Den- 
ton — has ever before been published. The official account 
which follows, was recently discovered among the Army Ar- 
chives in the State Library at Austin. The 1 document was 
written by Acting' Brigade Inspector Wm. N. Porter, under 
Ate, Bqwie county, June 5, 1841, reporting to Secretary of 
War Branch T. Archer, audi reads: 

"By order of Gen. Edward H. Tarrant, Brigadier Gen- 
eral of the Fourth BrdgadJe Texas Militia, I communicate to 
you the following facts relative to am expedition which he 
b&s lately completed against the hostile Indians. 

"On the 14th of May, he left Fort Johnson, above Cof- 
fee's Station (the then abandoned post,, established by Win. 
'G. Cooike at or near the present city of Denison. — Author) 
with one company of men commanded by Capt. James Bour- 
l&nd. Owing* to late depredations by Indians of a more fre- 
quent and daring character, and learning that the village of 
Indians had lately been dfiscovered on the headwaters of the 
Trinity River, he determined, with the small number of sdtx- 
ty-nine men, if possible, to find the Indians and attack 
ttem. We marched five days in a direction) a little soutih 
of west, passing through the leaver cross^timbers, and cross- 
ing the head branches of the middle fork of the Trinity. 
On the fifth day we entered the upper cross-timbers and. 
changed our direction! a little mlore south. On the 19th we 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 355 

discovered tolerably fresh sign®. We (had. 1 every reason to 
believe there 'were Indians in the vicinity. We soon found 
two villages, which we found to be deserted. The Indians, 
at seme time previous, had cultivated com at these villages. 
There were some sixty or seventy lodges 1 in 1 these two vil- 
lages. They were on the main western branch of the Trin- 
ity. They being situated on high branches of the moun- 
tains, Gen. Tarrant deemed ift imprudent to burm the villages, 
for fear of giving alarm to the Indians. Froun such elevat- 
ed positions the smoke could have been seen for many 
miles; but they were, in a great measure, destroyed with 
our axes. We ehaniged our course southeast, following the 
course, for some distance, of the main western branch of the 
Trinity ; and on the 21sti we crossed the higli divide, and that 
night camped on the eastern branch of the Brazos. Find- 
ing no Indian signs here, we changed our course east until 
*we again struck the Trinity, intending to scour the western 
branch to its mouth. On the 24rt-h w T e came to the ford) of 
the Trinity, wlhere Generals Rusk and Dyer charged the 
Kiekapoo camp m 1838, in sight of the lower cross- timbers. 
Here we recrossed the Trinity from the eastern side to the 
western side, and upon the high prairies one mile from the 
ford, we found very fresn. signs of Indians. The spies were 
«ent alhead, and returned and reported the Indian village 
an three miles. We arrived in three or four hundred yards, 
and took up a position behind a thicket. The men were or- 
dered to divest themselves of their blankets, packs, and all 
manner of incumbrances, after which the line was formed 
and the order given to ehar>ge into the village on horse- 
back." 



FAMOUS VILLAGE CREEK FIGHT. 

"Asre you all ready? * * * Now my bfc-ave men, we will 
never all meet on earth again; there is great confusion and 
death ahead. I shall expect every man to fill his place and 
do his duty" were tne all too true words of admonition ut- 
tered by the igrim and fearless Tarrant as he vgave his or- 



356 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ders and led Shis brave men m the desperate charge. In a 
moment the siound of firearms, with a voice of tnunder, rsmg 
out .over the alarmed and terror-stricken! inhabitants of that 
rude city of the wilderness. The onslaught was fierce and 
the surprise complete — the Indians falling in death before 
they eould escape from their lodges, or fleeing in wild con- 
fusaon. "The village was: taken in an instant,'' says the 'Of- 
ficial report, wtheh we now resume: 

1 ' Discovering a large trail leading down the creek and 
some of the Indians having gone dm that direction, a few 
men were left at the last village and the -resit at full speed 
took their course down the creek upon which the village 
was 1 situated. 

"Two miles from the first village we burst suddenly up- 
on another village. TMs was taken like the first.. Thea^e 
was another village in signt below. Many of the horses, 
havdnig failed, the men ran towards the village on foot; hut 
the Indians, having heard the firing at the second village, 
had time to take off their guns 1 and ammunition and com- 
menced occasionally to return our fire. 

"From this time there was no distinction of villages, but 
one continuous village for the distance of one mile and a 
'half , only separated by the creek upon which it was situated. 
We had now become so scattered that Gen. Tarrant deemed 
it advisable to establish -some rallying point to which smaller 
parties Slixmld be expected to -rally. We -marched back to 
tlie second village, and the rear guard with the pack having 
•come up, the General chose this as tlie position. From tikis 
-point Capit. John B. Denton (aide to Gen. Tarrrent) and 
Capt. Bourland! took each ten men, for tlie purpose of scour- 
ing the woods. The parties went in different directions, but 
formed a junction one mile and a half below the second vil- 
lage. Fr-om tihris point tjhey intended to return, but discover- 
ing 1 a very large trail — -much larger than any we had seen, 
lone end of which led over a mountain west, the other easfc 
towards the main Trinity, crossing- tlie creek upon which 
the villages were situated — they were compelled to cross the 
creek at the lower end of a bend which was formed like a 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



357 



horse-shoe. They turned to cross the creek, perceiving 
through the timber what appeared to be a village still larg- 
er than any they had heretofore seen; but just as the 
two detachments were on the eve of entering- the creek, tJhey 
were fiired on by an enemy that could not be seen. At the 
first fire Gen. Tarrant's aide, Capt. Denton, was killed and 

Capt. Stout severely wound ed Capt. Griffin slightly; the 

eiothes of many otthers were pierced with balls, but fortunate- 
ly no one else was touched. Situated as they were, it was 
impossible to maintain their position, being fired at from al- 
most every quarter and unable to see the enemy. In this sit- 
uation the men did' the best thev could — dismounting, some 
of theni raising the veil, and making every demonstration 
as though they intended' to charge -the creek. The Indian 
yells and firing soon ceased, and both parties left the 
ground. It was not the wish Gen. Tarrant to take any 
prisoners. The women and children, except one,* we suffer- 
ed to escape, if they wofefbed, and the men neither asked, 
gave or received any quarter. 

"Fnam 1 the prisoners whom we tod taken, we learned 
that at those villages there were upw T ards of one thousand 
warriors, not more than half of whom were then at home. 
The other half were hunting buffalo, and stealing on the 
frontier. Here was the depot for the stolen horses from our 
frontier, and the home of the horrible savages who had 
murdered; our families. They were portions of a good many 
tribes — principally the Cherokees who- were driven from 
Nacogdoches county, some Creeks and Seminoles, Wacos, 
Caddos, Kiekapocs, Anadarcos, etc. We counted two> hund- 
red and twenty-five lod<ges, all in occupation, besides those 
that they could see a glimpse of through the trees in the 
main village. They had about three hundred acres in corn, 
that we saw; and were abundantly provided! with ammuni- 
tion of every kind. They had good guns and had moulded 
a great many bullets,. Each lodge had two otr three little 



*Gen, Tarrant kept an Indian child that was captured, but returned it to its mother 
at a council held in the Indian Territory in 1842. 



358 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



bags of powder and lead, tied up in equal pensions ; and, at 
one lodge, a sort of blacksmith shop, where wo found! a set 
of blacksmith's tools. "Wo flound over a half bushel of 
moulded bullets, and we alsfc> found* some sergeant's 
swords, musket flints, rifle and musket powder, pig lead, 
amd musket balls, Which we supposed) they must 'have taken 
from the place where the regular army buried a portion 'of 
their ammunition. They had all manner of farming utensils 
of the best quality, except plows. In some of thej lodges 
we found feather beds and bedsteads. 

4 'We felt Convinced] if the Indians couildl ascertain the 
smallness of our numbers, they might, with so great a num- 
ber, by taking ladvantage of us at the crossing of the creeks 
with such immense thickets in their bottoms, which we were 
compelled to cress, if not defeat, at least cut off a great 
many of our men ; and, if we had remained at the village all 
night, it would (have given) the Indians time to have cionoeai- 
trated their forces, ascertained our numbers, ,andl with -ease 
have prevented our crossing a stream of the size of the 
Trinity. It was deemed advisable, therefore, to take up the 
line of march and cross the Trinity that night. At 5 o 'clock 
with our poor, dead companion tied across a horse, we left 
the village, marched twelve miles back on the trail we came, 
crossed the Trinity, and camped in the open prairie. The 
next morning, twenty-five miles from the village, we buried 
our friend,* and in five more days we arrived) in the settle^ 
meats. 

"We had one killed; one badly, and one slightly wound- 
ed. The Indians had) twelve killed, that we 1 icounted; and] a 
great many more must have been killed and wounded, from 
the quantity of blood we saw cm their t raids and in the 
thickets where they bad' run. 

"We brought in six head of cattle, thirty-seven horses, 
three hundred pounds of lead, thirty pounds of powder, 
twenty brass kettles, twenty- one axes, seventy-three buf- 



Accounts differ as to the name of the creek where Denton was first buried. One 
that it was on a rock ridge in Fossil Creek bottom near where Birdville now stands, and 
another that it was on a bluff of Oliver Creek in Denton county. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



359 



Mo robes, fifteen guns, thirteen pack saddles, and) three 
swords, besides divers other 'things not recollected. ' 7 



DEATH OF DENTON. 

But little earn be added to the foregoing. A few word& 
3 neat the tragic death of the noble Captain Denton. Dur- 
ing the terrible engagement/ in whch Denton was killed, the 
'brave old pioneer Indiaai fighter, Capt. John Yeary, called 
out at the top of his voice: ''Why in the h — 1 ckmi't you 
move your men out where we can. see the enemy? We'll all 
be killed here." To which Captain Henry Stout, himself a 
brave and noted pioneer leader and Inddan fighter, said: 
<v Men, do the best you can JBor yourselves. I am wounded 
and powerless," and at once an irregular retreat began. The 
detachment had fallen into an ambuscade. 

The shot that pierced Denton was so deadly that there 
was evidently no death struggle. He bad balanced 1 himself 
in his saddle, raised his gun, and closed one eye, intending 
to deal death npon the enemy when the death shock struck 
him. When his death was discovered his muscles were grad- 
ually relaxing, and his gun, yet in his hand, was inclining 
to the ground. The men nearest to him took him from his 
horse and laid Mm on the ground. 

The late venerated pioneer, Rev. Andrew Davis, then % 
lad, who participated in the Village Creek battle, says: 
"After tenderly wrapping the body of Denton and securing 
it on a gentle horse, about 4:30 p. m., we moved out from 
the village, and] up the river to a point near Fort Worth, 
and there spent the might. Early nex!t morning 1 we crossed 
the river at a place where the timber was 1 narrow. After 
crossing the river, we traveled in the direction of Bird's Sta- 
tion, aiming for Bonham— then Fort Inglish — as our ob- 
jective poSnt. 'At about 11 a. m. we halted on a prairie on 
the south side of a creek, with a high bank on the north. 
On one of those elevations Captain Denton was buried — 
tools having been brought along from' the village for that 
purpose. His grave was dtug a good depth. A thin rock 



360 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



was cut so as to fit in the bottom of the graven similar roefes 
being placed) M ttlue sides and 1 also at the head ainct foot. 
Another rock was plaieed over the foody, attid the grave fill- 
ed up. Thus was buried one of God's noblemen." And so 
perished one of Texas' brainiest and best men, a fine ora- 
tor, far above the average in intellect, and, had he lived, 
would have proved a blessing to his country and assisted 
materially; in its advancement — - 

''The pioneer was laid to rest., 

Tihe red >man set him free, 
Disturb him not, but let him sleep 

Beneath the old oak-tree."* 

But the precious bones of the beloved Dcn/toau were dis- 
turbed, and finally, after three quarters of a century, prop- 
erly honored — having been interred three times. First, by 
Ms sorrowing comrades m arm*, in tiuat lonely wilderness 
grave, in May, 1841 ; a second time, when the pioneer cattle- 
mam of Denton county, John Chisum, exhumed the remains 
and gave than burial in Ms yard at tine Ohisuni raiacih, near 
Bolivar, in I860; and a third time, m 1901, when, through 
patriotic protmptiings of members of the Old Settlers Asso- 
ciation of Denton county, all that remained mortal of the 
hero were gathered up, and, after an, appropriate ad- 
dress by the late Rev. Wm. Allen, extolling the deeds and il- 
lumining' the character of the deceased, and amid solemn and 
imposing ceremonies, the remains were laid to final rest be- 
neath a suitably inscribed slab, in the court house yard at 
Denton, the capital town of that fair county, eaen of which, 
(fts well as the principal stream which courses through that 
county, and an institution of learning, were named 1 for amd 
will ever perpetuate the memory of one of the bravest and 
noblest defenders of the Texas frontier.. 



OTHER EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS. 

June 13, 1841, Brig. Gen. James Smith, 3rd Brigade, 



*■ Wilbarger'* "Indian Depredations In Texas. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS, 



361 



Texas Militia, wrote from Nacogdoches to President Lamar 3 
saying that Major Gage and his spy company had at/tacked 
a party of fifteen! Indians- and pursued tine survivors, eight 
in number, and (ambushed them at the crossing of the Trin- 
ity, where they killed seven of them — cnly oa-e of the fifteen 
escaping. 

Capt. Eli Chandler, in a report" dated) June 19, 1841, 
gives an account of an. expedition! to the northwest bound- 
ary of the cross-timbers, on the divide between the Brazos 
and Trinity rivers, from which he; had just returned with a 
command of forty-one men. Near the point specified, he cap- 
tured a young Mexican who conducted him to an Indian 
village from which the warriors were absent. On the Way to 
and in, the village, he took fourteen prisoners. One of these 
informed him that sixty warriors were to, 'meet, at the vil- 
lage to go on, a hunt. Thereupon, he despatched' an aged 
woman to tell .her people to bring in the American prisoners 
.they had, and! the Indiian pris oners would be released and 
a friendly etompasct entered into. Continuing, he says.: "I 
then proceeded immediately to where I left my baggage t 
where I arrived, about 1 o-lclock p. m. The party of warriors 
above spoken; of, to the number of sixty, had -arrived early 
in the day and .attacked my baggage guard, who retreated 
a short distance to a ravine, took position and by their <u<n- 
ion and valor, snceeededi ini driving back the enemyi with the 
loss of their chief and one other killed. The whole number 
of Indians killed were four, and three e;r four wounded. 
None of my command received the slighest injury from the 
enemy. He says that he abandoned further pursuit as his 
force 'was small sand he had the prisoners to guard, and re- 
turned to Franklin, He asiks instructions as to what he shall 
do with the prisoners. He says : 'The Mexican prisoner 
.taken is a young man of smart intelligence — speaks the Eng- 
lish' language quite well — states that hie nasi been Hiving 
among the Choctaws* — was among these Indians trading — 
says they were principally Ionies, some Shawnees, a few 



*■ A rmy Archives. 



362 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



iWiacos ; that the Wtaoo's and Cherokees live .not far distant; 
■that the Tehuaeaaias, Gaddos, Kickapoos, etc., all make coim 
between the Brams and Trinity rivers; that mamy of them 
live <at wliaJt as -called' the Big Bend Village oai the 1 Brazos, 
which lie says is about .twenty miles albove where the Ameri- 
cans were last winter; that atll of the different tribes talk of 
■getting together and livdimg* at one pLace; 'that there is 
some little talk among them of makkig peace with the Amem- 
teams; that they are ,ge } neral<lynearly destitute of provisions 
and have great difficulty in obtaining the same 1 ; that they 
say they obtain their large quantities of lead by finding it 
'buried in the upper country; says he can take us to several 
encamp mentfc. I expect to make anctlier expeditioai) as soon 
as my horses recruit, if circiimistainces should' dndileate the 
same. ' '* 



THE SANTA FE EXPEDITION. 

The Santa Fe expedition, recommended by the Secre- 
tary of War and sanctioned by President Lamar, left Brushy 
Creek, near Austin, June 20, 1841. to traverse six hun- 
dred miles of wiLdernessi to Santa Fe. It was eommianded by 
Brig. Gen. Hugh McLeod, brother-inhlaw of President Lamar 
and consisted of five companies of mounted infantry and am 
artillery company with oaie brass six-pounder (a total of two 
hundred and' seventy soldiers) , about fifty other personis 
(traders, teamsters and adventurers), and Win. G. Oooke, R. 
F. Brenham, and J. A. Navarro, commissioners instructed 
to say to the people of Samta Fe that, if they were willing 
to acknowledge that portion of New Mexi'co as a part of 
Texas, the laws of the Republic would be extended over them. 



* From July 15th fo 20th between four hundred and Ave hundred volunteers from 
the Texas side of the Red River assembled at Fort Inglish for the purpose of another ex- 
pedition into the Indian country. They organized by electing- William C. Young, colonel 
James Bourland, lieutenant colonel; John Smither, adjutant, and William Lane, David 
Key. and others, captains. While this was transpiring- Indians captured two little boys 
on the Bois d'Arc fork of river, a few miles distant, and carried them off. The ehildren 
were recovered about two years later. Gen. Tarrant assumed command of the expedi- 
tion. It moved southward into what is Wise county, and received news of its coming- re- 
turned to Fort Ing-lish and disbanded. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



363 



but if they did not, Texas wished to establish friendly com- 
mercial relations with them andi would not use force to as- 
sert its territorial •claims. President Lamar had! previously 
issued a prodlamation covering the same ground and declar- 
ing the •objects of the expedition to be wholly pacific. 

Friendfe of the enterprise Jo/ad introduced a bill in Con- 
.g/resSj authorizitnig it, but the measure had been rejected by 
both houses. It was, therefoTe without statutory warrant, 
and was undertaken solely upon executive responsibility. 
The only legal sanction that could be claimed for it was 
that the act of 1836, defining the boundaries of Texas, in- 
cluded 1 iSanta Fe ito the limits of the Republic and it» was the 
duty of the President to enforce the sovereign jurisdiction 
asserted. 

It is said that the season selected for the undertaking- 
was too late and as a consequence, there was much suffering 
for want of .grass andl water. The wagons were overloaded, 
the distance to Santa Fe was under-estimated, and the 
gnides were unfamiliar with the route. There seems to have 
been a fatal combination of circumstances, that foredoomed 
the expedition to fthe humiliating disasters and tragic suf- 
ferings it encountered. Not knowing what awaited it, it 
started forth in the gayest spirits and with the mosit san- 
guine expectations. "The long train of wagons," says 
George Wilkims Kendall, "moving heavily forward with 
the different icompanies of volunteers, all well mounted' and 
well armed and riding in' double file, presented an imposing 
as well as animating spectacle, causing every heart to beat 
high with tihe anticipation of exciting incidents on the bound- 
less prairies." 

Finally reaching- New Mexico, after much suffering and 
many adventures, the advance troops of tne Santa Fe Expe- 
dition under Col. Wm. O. Cooke, were induced, by treacher- 
ous representations, to lay down, their arms and surrender 
to Commandant Col. Salazar, in New Mexico, on Sept. 17th, 
1841. The remainder of the expedition followed. The pris- 
oners were marched on foot to the interior, (some perish- 
ing on the long journey) where many of them were impris- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



oned in gruesome and foul dungeons in the City of Mexi- 
co, and others at Puebla and Perote. News of the disaster 
to an$ fate of this expedition was noti received in Texas, un- 
til in January, 1842. Some of the unfortunate men were re- 
leased at the instance of Gen. Andrew Jackson and other 
friends in position to intercede for clemency; some died in 
prison, and the remaining survivors, 119 in number, were 
eventually all released by order of Gen. Santa Anna, June 
13, 1843. 



BATTLE IN CANON DE UVALDE. 

In June, 1841, Capt. Jack Hay® having slightly augment- 
ed his company, pursued and defeated a depredating panty 
of Comanches near Uvalde Canyon, .the particulars of which 
are giveta thus in his official report : 

San Antotnio, July 1, 1841. 
'Bo 'the Ileai. Branch T. Archer, Secretary of War*. 

I have the honor to inform yotu that I have' this morn- 
ing returned from an expedition in pursuit, of a party of In- 
dians .thiatt had: been committing* deppe da tiros, and driving 
off stock i'roan the vieibaity of this place. On Alie 24th of 
this month I set out witfc a eo-mpatay of thiuty men, and 
took the trail wMeh led m the direction, of the Gany\on de 
Uvalde. Whttn within two males of the entjramee of (the eaa> 
yon, we came upon a parity af Indians, on their way front 
the main camp of the viciniity of this town. I immediately 
attaeked them and sueeeeded n killing eighit, and taking 
the two other prisoners,* capturing all their hoaxes and 
property. I would have continued on (to their main camp, 
feuft a.s my horses were munch jaded, and I foufnd the camp 
more distant than I expected, I concluded to return, amd af- 
ter recruiting proceeded to the eincampment, the situation 



♦ To take a Comanche prisoner was an affair of great difficulty. One reason was the 
ffcct that the Indian rule of warfare was opposed to letting: a captive live longer than cer- 
tain ceremonies eould be performed. In some instances they &eem to make an exhibit of 
the captured persons to the tribe or nation. After thiB was accomplished a cruel and lin- 
gering torture was inflicted. It is reasonable to suppose that the Comanches believed 
that the whites inflicted similar outrages and similar death upon the Indian prisoners. 



\ 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 365 

of which I have ascertained. But one of my c<amma>nd wa& 
wounded — Mr. Miller — and he not severely. The company 
consisted) of sixteen Amerdeajns. In addition I was aided by 
GsgptdiattJ] Flojnes, with about twenty Mexicans. 

I have the honor to be your obedkfat servant, 
JOHN C. HAYS 

Captain. C omnia ndimg'. 



BORDER BANDITTI. 

John T. Price wrote to Secretary of War and Marine 
Branch T. Archer, from Victoria, July 2, as follows: 

"In accordance with a requisition made by the Sheriff 
of ftfiiis cioimty and] Refu,gk),, in company with some fortv 
citizens, went to the Nueces for the puq^ose of arresting" the 
maraaiders wlio have for some time past infested our fron> 
tier. 

"Our party was compcsedof citizens of this county, R«* 
fugio md San Patrioo. We reached the Nueces on the 22nd,, 
ult., and there learned that a short tifme previous a Mexi- 
can had been, to Kinney 's Randh and' stated that a party of 
300 sctldiers were within thirty - five miles of that 
place, uoider the command of Col. Verial. He /stated $hat 
the troops were in search of rubbers and had succeeded' in 
siirp rising* a party of ten atnd had killed them all but one. 
The bodies of these men were found by our party. It ap- 
pears tibat they (the robbers) had a short time before killed 
a party of traders and robbed Hhem of several hundred dol- 
lars, a lot of blankets, etc. This party of Americans w&s 
led by a Mr. Yearby who formerly resided at Austin. 

"We learned also from some Mexicans recently frofe 
Camarg'o that Owensby, with about fifteern meaa, had been 
surrounded by two or three hundred Mexicans, and' tbspi 
eight or nkie of his men were killed and himself and fire 
others taken prisoners. Verial with his command had rfr 
tunned to the Rio Grande before our arival at tfhe Nueces. 

"It appears from) the statement made by the trader's 
who have visited our counttry of late, that it is the settled 



366 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



purpose of the Mexican authorities not oinly to assert, but 
maintain, the eontrol of the territory between the Nueces 
and Rio» Grande. * * *» 

Capt. Sanchez (aide de camp to Gen. Ampudia), in com- 
mand of fifteen Mexican cavalrymen, made a descent upofia 
Mower Bluff, fifteen miles sour.h.--east of Kinney's and Au- 
brey's ranch, and captured Phillip Dimitt, J. C. Boyd, 
Stephen W. Farrow and Henry Graham. 

He also took $6,000.00 worth of goods tJhat had been pur- 
chased as stock for the mercantile establishment of Dimitt, 
Gurley and Farrow. Boyd and Graham were em- 
ployees of Gurley and Farrow. Gurley was. absent from the 
Bluff at the time tlhe raid was made. Sanchez did not dis- 
turb the store of Kinney and Aubrey, which led Gurley 
and others) to entertain and give expression to opinions 
that were perhaps unjust. Gurley writing * to Secretary 
Archer from Gonzales, said that indignation meetings had 
been held at Victoria, Lamar, Gonzales and ot!her towns, and 
the people were willing and eager to turn out en mass© 
snake good the claims of Texas to the territory between the 
Nueces and Itio Grande, and inflict retaliation on Mexico* for 
injuries suffered'; tfcat they waited only for tttie Texas gov- 
ernment to authorize them to act. 

Dimitt and has companions were taken to Maitamoras and 
thence- to Monterey where they were delivered to Arista. 
By his order they were manacled and marched to Saltillo. On 
the way their irons were removed by GapU Chaffind who 
commanded their guard. 

At Saltillo they made an attempt to escape. Some of 
them got off a considerable distance. Oapt. Chaffind sent 
them word tHiat he would forgive them if they returned, and 
if they did not, he would have Dimitt shot. This message, 
was uttered in the presence of Dimitt, who as soon as he 
saw that foe was unobserved, took a large dose of morphine 
which caused has death. Yoakum says : ' ' Thus fell a noble 



♦ Army Archives. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



367 



spirit by whom the first Lone Star banner was unfurled on 
the heights of La Bahiai." 



CAPTAIN ERATH'S FIGHT. 

Capt. George B. Erath, of the Milam County Minute 
Men, writing from Fort Bryant August 12, 1841, to the Secre- 
tary of War, says: "Agreeable, to appointment made with 
Capt. Chandler, from Milam county, I met the Robertson 
County Company on the 26th of July, 1841, at the Ionie Til- 
lage on.' t/he Brazos, and were also joined by Maj. Lewis, Mr. 
Archer, Mr. Landers, and several other gentlemen from Aus- 
tin. Captain Chandler took command (by consent of part- 
ies .and we proceeded slowly up the Brazos, having to con- 
tend and tarry with sickness daily. We passed several eva- 
cuated towns of the enemy in the cross- timbers and our spies 
used every exertion to ferret out the grand village, but with 
out success. On the 3rd, of August, being encamped in tne 
upper edge of the cross-timbers and anxiously waiting the re- 
turn of ofu>r spies to commence referograiete movements, our 
provision's being exhausted, a few Indians made their 
appearance about camp. I was detached, with twenty men, 
in? pursuit ; and in search of the trail, divided my party, 
leaving some men with Capt. Love of Robertson county on 
the left. My men, in the meantime discovered! the trail, and 
I pushed hard on the same, when I was fired uposn by a 
party of Kiekapoos, or Cherckees, from behind a cliff of 
rocks which secured the enemy completely, being only on one 
side possible to ascend it with the utmost difficulty; which 
passage was defended bravely by the rifles of the enemy. 
Their first fire killed one of my men, Capt. A. J. Smith of 
Milam county, and several balls grazed others without in- 
jury. I formed in a little grove of timber and returned the 
fire, which was kept up for half an hour, during 'which time 
ft m thought that we killed two Indians and, perhaps, 
wounded others. At that time Capt. Love arrived, and 
another re-enforcement came up from camp. A charge was 
then madte and the bluff carried. The Indians 1 left the 



368 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



ground carrying their dead. The mountainous situation/ 6£ 
the country made pursuit impracticable; and after bury- 
•ing our dead man, we commenced our return throug"h the 
eross-tiinbers. The 7th of August I separated my company 
&om Oapt. Chandler's and returned to the settlements by 
way of the Bosque, finding no sign of the enemy on our re- 
turn. We stiE feel convinced that .a strong village exists 
on the Brazos, but that only a well fitted campaign can; cap- 
tee it. 

The toils and, sufferings of the company were greater 
than usual, and .the perseverance and vigilance of the men 
•highly commendable * * * 

The general election of the Republic occurred Sept. 6, 
1841, and resulted in the choice of Gen. Sam,Houstonj as Pres- 
ident by a vote of nearly two to one over his opponent, Da- 
vid G. Burnet, and of Gen. Edward Burleson as Vice-Presi- 
dent by a large majority over Memuean Hunt. 

Col. Martin Erancisco Peraza, as envoy of Yucatan, ar- 
rived in Austin Septeanber 11, to solicit for his country na- 
val aid from Texas. Tfhis was granted after the Secretary 
of State received from John D. Morris amd C. Yam Ness, com- 
missioners who had' been 1 sent to Gen. Arista, a communica- 
tion stating the result of their mission and that no agreement 
had been entered into that rendered improper the granting 
of such aid.* 



DEATH OF MAJOR HSAED. 

In August of this year a company of eight " minute 
men," consisting of John Keruer, Charles Sevier, Gilbert 
II. Love, John. Hardister, Thoman Sypert, William McGrew, 
and Thomas Dromgoole, led by Maj. Heard, left Old Frank- 
lin for a scout up the country. Tiuey left on ,a rainy day 
afternoou and followed the trail leading towards Parker's 
Fort. Early next day, when about fourteen miles from 



Yoakum is mistaken in asserting that the negotiation with Peraza was effected 
while Arista's "peace envoy" was in Texas and that this circumstance and the Santa Fe 
expedition were responsible for the contiuuance of border warfare, murders, robberies, etc. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



369 



Franklin, while riding: in single file and passing a couple of 
deep ravines, near their junction, about eighteen Indians 
rose from under the bank of the one parallel to the trail, and 
only thirty or forty yards distant, and fired on them, com- 
pletely surprising the party. Major Heard, riding in front, 
,fell dead from his horse, pierced by three balls. Some of 
the men retreated a short distance and halted, others dis- 
mounted near by, and Love stood by the dead body to pre- 
vent its being scalped, but was soon compelled to join- the 
others, all of whom rallied together. Love lost his mule, 
but succeeded in mounting the dead man's horse, and after 
some skirmishing the seven men returned to Franklin, when 
a party went out and carried in for burial the dead body 
which had been scalped, the head and hands cut off, and 
oft her wis e mu t< il a t e d . * 

The Indians were pursued for several days by a party 
composed of John Kerner, William M. Love, Gilbert H. 
Love, William MeGraw and a number of others, but they 
failed to overtake them. 



John Wahrenberger, employed as a gardener by Col. 
Louis T. Cook, was attacked at night in the fall of 1841 by 
Indians 'while he was carrying a sack of meal from the mill 
near the edge of town, to the home of his employer in Aus- 
tin. He ran- for his life, but held on to his burden, 
"which was a fortunate circumstance, as some of the arrows 
sliot at him by the pursuing Indians struck and stuck in 
the sack of meal, only one hitting him, making a slight wound 
in the arm. He fell breathless in the doorway of Col. Cook \s 
house. Cook fired on, the Indians, bringing one of them to 
tiie ground. This halted! them. As soon as they could rally 
they picked up their wounded companicai and ran. for cov- 
er. The marauders were pursued the next da}-, but were 
not evertakeai. 

In the fall of 1841 Captain Jack Hays and his rangers 
were attacked by, but defeated with great slaughter, 



♦ Heard's Prairie in Robertson county perpetuates thename of this Worthy pioneer. 



370 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



a large force of Comanehes at the "Enchanted Rock," in 
Gillespie county. During the action, Capit. Hays became 
separated from his men, but took position on the summit 
of a mass of broken, lava-like rocks, that sloped) steeply 
down, in every direction. 

The savages swarmed! up the escarpment, in mad en- 
deavor to kill him and tiake his scalp. He shot them fast- 
er than they could ascend. The fortunes of the day went 
equally ill with them in; other parts of the field, anid at last 
they were forced into rout and retreated, uttering howls 
of defeat. 



Tine sixth Congress convened at Austin, Nov. 1, 1841. 
President Houston and Vice-President Ruirleson were inaug- 
urated December 13. 

President Houston's assertions that Lamar's Indian pol- 
icy had resulted in failure and that millions of dollars had 
been wasted 1 in useless! expenditures, were due to misappre- 
hension of facts. However, the pacific policy pursued by 
President Houston during his first administration (as the 
first constitutional president of the Republic) did not secure 
peace for the frontier, and left at its close the greater part 
of Texas in the possession of hostile, bloodthirsty and exul- 
tant savages. 

The Cherokees entrenched in the east, and the Ooman- 
ches, lords of the west, afforded the Mexican government op- 
portunity and means to plot and wreak vengeance on the 
people of Texas, and retarded the settlement and develop- 
ment of the country, which Lamar removed. He expelled the 
Cherokees, broke the power of the C0man3h.es, ren- 
dered impossible serious co-operation of the Indians witth 
Mexico in any plan of! invasion and attempted conquest, and 
prevented Indian' depredations and murders ever recurring 
on so large a scale and! over such a wide extent of territory 
as in former years. Ill-timed and profitless as the Santa Fe 
expedition appeared to be at the time it occurred-, it made 
Texas' claim to its "northwestern territory" sufficiently 
good for the state to obtain for its relinquishment in 1850, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



371 



$10,000,000 foxxm the United States government. Tbe finan- 
cial cost of the expedition was less than $80,000. The 
greatest .cost was the loss of so -many, noble- lives. 
It is pleasing to reflect, however, that the men' who* fell! 
perished not in vain. The large increase in the public debt, 
deplored in the message did not in the end amount to much. 
The debt was. scaled to a fraction of its nominal total and 
was discharged by 'other millions of money paid to Texas, 
after annexation, by the United States, and mot by taxes 
wrung from the popie. The gains obtained were enormous, 
and would have been fully compensatory if they had repre- 
sented returns for actual dollars contributed in part by the 
Texan s of that day, and! im part by their successors. 

Perhaps, after all, the aggressive Indian policy of Lamar 
was of imperative necessity at the period of his administra- 
tion. There were at least extenuating circumstances and con- 
ditions, and much of public sentiment brought to bear upon 
him. But the genius and policies of Houstoni met emergen- 
cies that could have been moulded to- advantage by no other 
means and manner. Each was a good and great man, and 
each labored bravely and conscientiously for what he be- 
lieved to be for the good of his countrymen. 

The patriotic Texan of the present day — unbiased by the 
jealousies, animosities and politics of the past and viewing 
the men and measures of old in the clear light of accom- 
plished results — finds much to applaud, and little to censure 
in the administration of Lamar, and can say truly those meas- 
ures for which he was most criticised, brought the largest 
"benefits to Texas and' will longest preserve his fame and; keep 
aglow the gratitude of posterity. 

By the failure of Gen. Hamilton to negotiate! a $5,000,000 
loan for Texas in Europe, Lamar was saved from a great fol- 
ly that he would probably have committed, viz : the invasion 
iof Mexico- with* ai Texasi army. Diplomacy, result- 
ing- in> later years.' in annexation, accomplished with- 
out cost and! bloodshed, what any Texas army that could 
have been marshalled! and supported with such a loan, would 
have failed to attain. The loan is said to have been de- 



372 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



feafced! by the influence of Saligny, the French minister to 
Texas. One of his servants killed a hog belonging to Bul- 
lock, a hotel keeper at Austin. The bonifiace thrashed the 
hostler and afterwards insulted and threatened Saligny, 
who demanded of, and failed to Secure from the Texas gov- 
ernment, the redress to which he considered himself entitled. 

His brother-in-law, M. Human, the French minister of 
finance, was instrumental in having the banking firm, Lafitte 
& Co., of Paris, abruptly drop the loan after they had led 
Gen. Hamilton to believe they would! place it. The diffi- 
culty with Saligny was adjusted after Gen. Houston suc- 
ceeded to the presidency, and the French minister returned 
to his post. Saligny always stoutly denied that he took any 
action that contributed to tie defeat of <the loan. Whether 
he did, or did' not, is immateriaL The fact remains tShat fail 
ure to obtain the money was a genuine blessing, though dis- 
guised as a calamity at the time. 




An Early Type of Revolver. 



CHAPTER XV. 




LANCING over the history -of the last y&ms 
of the Texias Republic, one finds many stir- 
ring events a .id tragic episodes transpiring — 
as th^ all-starred Santa Fe expeditdcai dur- 
ing the latter half of 1841; the dual Mexi- 
can, invasion of Texas and capture of Sam 
Antonito, first by the forces under Vasquez, 
SHU"") r >~C^k ^ and second, those led by General W-oll, in 
v ML. }g3 L M the spring atad summer of 1842, leading up 
to the battle of Sal ado and the horrible 
Dawson massacre, atnd the sad sequence, the Mier expeddtioai, 
the break at tSalado, "lottery of death," and castle Pefpo t e ; 
the "Archive War," resulting from President Houstoln's at- 
tempt to remove the recordls from the exposed and recently 
(1839) selected seat of government at Austin, itri December, 
1842; the celebrated. Snively expedition and its deplorable, 
shameful, failure; the bloody and fearfnl vendetta or feud 
kino win to history as the "Wajr *of the Regulatcrs and Mod- 
erators," and which raged with fearful violence in the east- 
ertn part of the Republic for nearly three years, quelled 
finally per force of government arms, in 1844; and other 
momentous happenings. Twas .indeed a swift moving pe- 
riod of fiery history making. But *of these, and such mat- 
ters, it is not our purpose to narrate in this connection. 
Other incidents and equally thrilling affairs now engage 
our attention. 



374 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS, 



At the general election, Sept. 6, 1841, Gen. Sam Houst- 
toe was ichlose'n by a large majority for a second term as 
President of the Republic, with 1 Gen. Ed. Burleson, as Vice 
Bresideoit. Both were tried soldiers and patriots, and able 
■statesmen — a most fortunate circumstance for Texas at 
that critical period. The Republic was then laboring in a 
sea iof difficulties that many believed no one, save "Old 
Sam" Houston, could safely guide it -over. All had rcontfi- 
detnce in his great and directing mind, and his triumphant 
election and vigorous hajndlisng iof the reins of govennment 
was joyously hailed with general satisfaction throughout the 
country. 



PEACE OR WAR. 

It iis mot our\ wish to discuss the political issues of that 
day and time, nor to voice opinion regard img the opposing 
policies advocated relative to dealing with, and treating the 
various Indian tribes yet, formidable and hostile, residing 
in the Republic. Houston's predecessor, President Lamar, 
believed that vigorous war should be waged until all the 
tribes, both (native and migrated, should be exterminated 
or subdued. His favorite slogan, as so tersely expressed by 
acting Presid'emit David G. Burnet, being "Let the ^word do 
its work." And, in accordance with this idea Lamiar had 
•encouraged expeditions and sent forces against the wild 
tribes and all other Indians, inflicting chastisement at every 
opportunity, iand hence, when Houston again came into office 
he found the Indians exc.ee din gly> hostile and vengeful 1 — "the 
whole frontier Hi up with the flames iof fierce asnd savage 
warfare. ' ' 

Houston's policy for dealing with the savages was -exact- 
ly the reverse of Lamar's. He uniformly and ever favored 
a peace policy, the forming of peace- treaties amd the dis- 
bursement iof presents, talkis, etc., to ^conciliate and pacify 
the wild men. "On this policy (says John Henry Browm) the 
country was divided in opinion, and the question was often 
discussed with more or less bi'ttenness. Nothing could be 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



375 



more inatural. re spec tiling; a policy affecting 1 so deeply the 
property and lives of the frontier people, who were so- great- 
ly ■exposed! to the raids of the bo stiles, and had little or mo 
faith m their fidelity to treaty stipulations ■; 'while the 1 Presi- 
dent, (realizing the sparsity of population and feebleness in 
resources lof the government and the country, hoped to bring 
about a general cessation of hostilities, establish a line of de- 
markationj between the whites and Indians, and by establish- 
ing along tflie same a line of trading houses, to piromiote 
friendly traffic, with occasional presents by the govern- 
ment, to control the wild men and preserve 'the lives <of the 
people. It was a policy in keepin.g wdthi his high chatracter 
as a wise and faithful guardian of the lives of the people. 
Tlie lack of confidence by many in the fidelity off the tribes 
was no reason why the effort, so fraught with .giood, should, 
not be made." 



HOUSTON'S INDIAN TALKS. 

Houston's letters amd. reported talks to the red men gio, 
to show (he understood their character, their sentiments and 
sensibilities, and the cast of their minds perfectly, as weill 
as the thoughts and modes \of expression best calculated to 
affect them favorably, and. there can toe no doubt but that 
President Houston wielded an infloiemjce and did much to 
reconcile and keep the Indians in subjection, and thus en- 
abled the settlers to push forward and gain a more substan- 
tial hold,. When Houston would treat with the hostiles and 
dissuade them from the warpath he wrote : "The red broth- 
ers all know that my words to them have neiveir been for- 
gotten by me. They have never been swallowed up by 
darkness, nor has the light of the sun consumed them. 
Truth cannot perish, but the words of ( a liar are as nothing. 
I wish you to come, and we will again shake hands 1 and 
counsel together. Bring other chiefs with you. Talk tot all 
the red men to make peace. War cannot make them happy. 
It has lasted too long. Let it now be ended and cease for- 
ever. Tell all my red brothei\s to listen to my conrmunica- 



376 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



t-ions, and to walk by the words of niy council. If they bear 
me and keep my words, their homefs shall be happy; their 
fires shall bum brightly and' the pipe of peace shall be hand- 
ed around the hearth of their wigwams. The tomahawk shall 
no more (be raised im war, nor shall the dog howl for tlie 
master who/ has been slain in battle ; joy shall take the 1 place 
of sorrow; and the laughter of your children shall be heard 
in place of the cries of your women." 

These "talks" or letters make interesting reading even 
at this far time, and they clearly illustrate the policy Hous- 
ton was wont tot pursue, besides giving a glimpse of affairs 
and conditions along the border, as well as the embittered 
feelings then existing between the whites and Indians. 
Mark the simple, yet beautiful, and even lofty, style, so 
suited to the untutored' /minds of the red men. The Indians 
loved and confided in Houston, <andl ini return, Houston nev- 
er betrayed -a trust, nor forgot the welfare of, his forest 
friends. 

An incident transpired that shocked him greatly, and 
that raised up bitter and revengeful enemies for the whites, 
viz: the killing' of the ceHebrated Lipani chieftain, Flaeo. 
The Li pans had) always been friends of the 'white people, 
and had acted as scouts, and guide is side by side with them. 
Flaco bad changed often with Hays and other frontier lead- 
ers, had displayed signal wisdom, good feeling and gallantry 
on many occasions, and was worthy of the highest esteem in 
which he was generally held. lie was killed, it was -claimed, 
by a party of white men who mistook his identity, and act- 
ed with inexcusable haste. The Lipans denounced the act as 
murder, and joined the wild prairie tribes. Houston sought 
in vain to console and placate them by the following letter, 
written to Flaco ? s father: 

Executive Department, Washington, March 28, 1843. 
To the Memory of Gen. Flaco, Chief of Lipans. 

My Brother: My heart is sad. A dark cloud rests up- 
on your nation. Grief has sounded in your camp. The 
voice of Flaco is silent. His words are not heard in conn- 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



377 



cil. The chief is no more. His life has fled to the "Great 
Spirit." His eyes are closed. His heart no longer leaps at 
the sight of the buffalo. The voices of your camp are no 
longer heard to cry: "FlacO' hais returned from the chase !" 
Your chiefs look down upon the earth and groan in trouble. 
Your warriors weep* — the loud voices of grief are hear*! 
from/ yo'i.r women and' children. The songs of the birds are 
silent. The ears of your people hear no pleasant -sounds. 
Sorrow whispers in the winds. The noi&e of the tempest 
passes ; it is not heard. Your hearts are heavy. The name 
of Flacoi brought joy to all hearts. Joy was on, every face. 
Your people were happy. Flacoi is no lon.ger seen in the 
fight. His voice is no longer heard in the battle. The en- 
emy no longer make a. path for his glory. His valor is no 
longer a gmard for your people. The right aran of youir (na- 
tion is broken. Flaco was a friend to the white brothers. 
They will not foirtget him. They will remember the red war- 
rior. His father wil not be forgotten, We will be kind to 
the Lipans. Grass tshall not grow in the path between us. 
Let your wise men give the council of peace. Let your 
youaiig men walk in the white path. The gray-headed men 
of your nation will teach wisdom. I willl hold my red 
bro thetr by the hand Thy brother, 

Samj Houston. 



HOUSTON'S INDIAN POW WOW. 

A contemporary writer* and eye-witness, thus graphi- 
cally describes one of the President's Indian' pow wows, 
which occurred at the capital. The scenes and incidents de- 
scribed will never be re-enae'tedV— the picture is of a scene 
forever past : 

"It was im the early summer of th.e y, ar 1-S44, before 
the close of President Houston's second term, that am In- 
dian council was heldi at Washington, about -three quarters 
od! a mile frami the village center. Upoai invitation some 



♦ Veteran Prank Brown, yet (1912) living-. 



378 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



fifty cn< mure Indian braves with their women and children^ 
aggregating- a hundred oir more, eamie in a, hody. A grove 
wats selected, in which they were directed to camp. Their 
tents were erec'tted of buffalo skins. They brought in honey, 
bea^ oil, and 1 meats of wild animals. The president caused 
thean to be furnished with corn for bread and hominy, and 
beef, as needed. They were presented with blankets and 1 
other useful articles, including trinkets. Their ponies were 
pastured on the rich grass. The range was open. 

" Exhibitions of skill with bow and anrcow, lance and tom- 
ahawk, were given. (ratines were indulged in. Indians and 
white® freely mingled. The red men were 1 in the village near- 
ly every d(ay parading the streets and visiting the whites at 
their places of business and dwellings. They were often in- 
vitied to the tables of the white folks, where they sat down 
and ate heartily. Their table manners were extremely awk- 
waud. It was aim-using to see an Indian with a piece of 
bread in hand, at the same time holding- a fork in the same 
hand. In conveying the bread to his mouth he was like- 
ly to stick the prongs in his eyes. After meals all hands 
sat in the shade and) isnioked the pipe. It was customary, as 
an act of friendsship and courtesy, for the same pipe* to» be 
used' hy ibofh whites and red men. It required a stomach 
for the average white man to conform,. Thle pipe was filled 
with a preparation of mixed tobacco and sumach leaves, 
called killikinick. 

' ' At night the whites were in the habit of going to the In- 
dian camp to see their amuserneints. These consisted of 
games and dances after the Indian fashion. Their dancing 
is difficult to describe. The men and! women dad not dance 
together as we do. The men would fotrm a circle 1 and dance 
to the right in a forward manner, after a rude fashion,. Af- 
ter the men were through they left the ring, when the women 
took their places, instead of dancing in a forward way, as 
did the men, they advanced to the right sidewayts, all in a cir- 
cle. 'There was little or no grace in the movements of either. 
The mnsiic consisted of a drum, made from a dried deeir skim, 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



379 



tig/htly stretched over a stout hoop, and a seasoned Spanish 
gourd with the dry seed* trattlinig in it when shaken. 

"A day was set for the council . In the forenoon Presi- 
dent HoustOc, with his cabinet officers, went to the camp. 
They were neatly dressed asi became the occasion. President 
Houston sometimes affected a rather gaudy style — he fre- 
quently wore u vest made from' spotted leopard skin. The red 
chiefs and their leading men were painted in gorgeous 
colors, their heads -adorned with large feathers, the leggings 
with beads and painted designs. A council fire was 
lighted in the center of a space clear ed for the purpose. The 
president and hiis cabinet officers' occupied one side of the 
council ground, sitting in a sort of half circle. The Indians 
occupied the opposite side, also sitting in a half circle, facing 
the wliites. All sat on buffalo ro/bes spread on the ground. 
Spectators consisting of white men, women and children, 
with the red men not of the council, their women and child- 
ren, surrounded the councilmen. In a short time after the 
conference met a large pipe, with a long stem, duly orna- 
mented and filled with killikinick, was lighted. President 
Houston took the pipe, drew two or three whiffs in a. delib- 
erate manner, and then handed it to the first chief on the 
left of the half circle of red men. This chief placed the 
stem in his mouth, slowly drew two whiffs, and then banded 
it to his nearest neighbor on the right. In this manner the 
entire circle of couneilmen, Indians and "whites, pairtook of 
the pipe. 

"After the smoke was finished, the president arosie, and 
through an interpreter made a talk toi the red chiefs. But 
few Indians could understand English; nearly all of them 
spoke Spanish. The president, from his long association with 
Indians .and intimate knowledge of their vie wis and preju- 
dices, knew how to address them. Nearly every time a sen- 
tence was translated the chiefs would utter a .grunlt of ap- 
proval. At the conclusion of IWsidemt Houiston's address 
the chief s were invited to talk. Some of them did so. The 
ceremonies lasted quite a while. At the conclusion the 



380 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



courneil formally adjourned with good feeling on both sides. 

"Ydie Indians remained some thiree or four weeks. Tthey 
finally broke camp, packed their "effects on horses, mounted 
their ponies and departed on a west course. In a day or two 
they weire beyond the white settlements.'' 



HOUSTON'S INDIAN TREATY. 

In September 1843, the President, through his fearless 
commissioners, Captains Eldridige, Torry and Bee, effected a 
peace treaty with the Waeos, Antadarkos, Towash, Caddos, 
Keechies, Wiehitas, Tehuacanas, Ionics, Beedies, Delawares, 
Biloxi, and other small tribes, including a band of thirty 
CherokeCis, 'who had assembled *at a designated point on the 
Trinity, now in Wise county. Keeehi-ko-so-qua h.ead chief of 
the Tehuacanas, was the leader and most influential Indian 
in the council. In council a boundary line was discussed and 
finally agreed upon between the whites and the Indians, 
along which trading houses were to> be established — one at 
the mouth of the clear fork of the Trinity (Fort, Worth), one 
at Comanche Peak (Hood county) on the Brazos and one at 
Fort San Saba. Tihe treaty had the effect it is said, to al- 
lay hostilities for a time, though, of course, the boundary 
was not always respected by either whites or Indians. 

Thus, during his term of office, Houston was diligent 
and determined in his efforts to> conciliate in some degree at 
least, the incensed savages, and dissuade them as much as pos- 
sible froan such constant and vengeful hostilities. No oppor- 
tunity in this directoni was overlooked. Tlhe President, was 
const aaitly sending out "talks" and presents by faithful 
commissioners and agents, who; visited the Indians in their 
own wild haunts, tat gate at peril, as special representatives; 
and always^ inviting the chiefs and head: mm to visit and 
council with The Great White Father — the President — at his 
home, the capital. 

At the close of his term of office,, Houston was war- 
ranted in saying, among other things, portending a better 
condition' of affairs' and brighter 1 hopes for the future wel- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



381 



fare of the straggling Republic-: "Our Indian affairs are in 
as good condition a-s the most sanguine could reasonably have 
anticipated * * * It is not d-einied that there are among the 
Indians, as aanong our' own people, individuals: who will dis- 
regard 1 all law ain<i commit excesses of the most flagrant 
character; but it is unjust to attribute to a tribe or a body 
of men disposed to obey the laws r what is properly charge- 
able to a few renegades and desperadoes. Other governments 
of far greater resources for imposing restraints upon the 
wild men of the forests and prairies, have not been exempt 
from the infraction of treaties, and occasional commission of 
acts of rapine and blood. We must, therefore, expect to suf- 
fer^ in a greater Or less degree from the same causes. But 
even this, in the opiaiion of the Executive, does not furnish 
overruling testimony against the policy which he has con- 
stantly recommended, and which he has had the happiness to 
see so fully and satisfactorily tested." 

Though a marked difference is perceptible, and a de- 
crease of hostilities is observable, especially during the .lat- 
ter half of Houston's second term, yet many crimes and de- 
predations were comnnitted in various sections, and espe- 
cially along the advancing and exposed line of frontier; 
atrocities, captivities,, and fierce conflicts — enough indeed 
in volume to far exceed the limits here ascribed. But, per- 
haps, one can tire his readers with telling too much, hc/w- 
>«;ver thrilling and absorbing the subject. A few other not- 
able incidents and engagements, without further preface, 
must suffice. 



DEATH OF CHIEF "BIG FOOT". 

The following thrilling incident well illustrates the 
trials and perils of the pioneer settlers and the manner and 
mode of border warfare as carried on in Texas at that pe- 
riod of time. 

Captain Shapley P. Ross, father of the late Gen. L. S. 
Ross, was one of the early, staunch, pioneers of Texas, 
having emigrated from Bentonpor^ Ohio, and settled near 



382 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



the present town of Cameron, Milam county — then a howl- 
ing wilderness — in 1839. Captain Ross was of powerful 
frame, with cool courage and a sagacity equal to the In- 
dian with whom he was so often thrown in contact; in 
fact Ross was -endowed with all the qualities necessary to 
the makeup of! the hardy pioneer and successful border 
trooper, and hence he soon became a recognized leader of 
the whites against the Comanches and ot^ier hostile tribes 
of Indians who then ruled that region. Captain Ross lead 
his neighbors in many expeditions against the wily red foes 
and encountered many thrilling adventures and narrow- es- 
capes. One incident has, more tfhan any other, made his 
name famous in the border annals of Tei&as. This was the 
celebrated hand-to-hand fight between Captain Ross and the 
powerful Comanche chief, "Big Foot," which occurred in 
1842, and in which combat the famous Indian warrior lost his 
life. The details of this celebrated encounter are here given 
substantially as told by Captain Ross himself. 

Captain Ross had just returned home from a business, 
trip to the lower settlements, bringing with him a fine mare 
he had purchased, the Indians having stolen all his other 
horses. A short time after his return the bold and alert 
frontiersman heard in the woods nearby what an unsophisti- 
cated person would have thought the whinneying of a colt 
and the ihooting of owls. But the quick ear of R*oss sow 
detected the cheat, and he knew the house was watched and 
surrounded by savages. He kept indoors till the next day, 
when word was conveyed to a neighbor named Monroe, whose 
horse had been: carried off the* night previous by the Indians. 
The object of the Comanches in imitating the whinneying of 
a colt was to draw the settler from his cabin and murder 
him. The ruse did not work that time. 

The marauding thieves having hastily fled with their 
booty, it was determined to raise as good a force as possi- 
ble and follow the Indians. The party included six, one of 
whom was a young man, Shapley Woolfork, a nephew of 
Captain Ross. On examining the trail, the settlers readily 
recognized the tracks of the notorious ComajQche chief, "Big 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 383 

Foot," of whom the settlers far and near stood in mortal 
dread, so cruel were his outrages. The little pursuing com- 
pany dashed forward some thirty miles in a drenching rain- 
storm, which wet the powder in their flintrock rifles and 
rendered them useless. Two of 'the party became discour- 
aged and returned, but Captain Ross and three determined 
companions continued the pursuit. 

THE HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLE. 

Suddenly, at a point known as "The Knobs" near the 
present town of Temple, in Bell county, the Indians were 
discovered, having halted to skin a buffalo they had just 
shot. The surprise was apparent, but the Indians had no 
chance of escape, and dropping their knives, seized their 
guns and bows and prepared for the contest— a most despe- 
rate one. The savages repeatedly snapped their guns but 
failed to fire, their powder also being wet. Both parties 
now clubbed their guns, and in close contact the battle roy- 
al raged, many daring acts of individual heroism transpir- 
ing. It was a deadly niat/cth, a struggle for life between 
fearless red and white warriors, and for a time the issue 
was indeed doubtful. Finally, one of the settlers, Bryant, 
killed an Indian with the butt of his rifle. Toward the close 
of the figiht, Captain Ross saw Big Foot mounted on a fine 
animal, Monroe's mare he had stolen, and riding toward him. 
He drew both his holsters, but discovered to his chagrin thalJ 
the powder was wet. He threw one of them at Big Foot's 
head, but struck him on the shoulder. He was about deal- 
ing the ch-ief a terrific blow with the but of his rifle when 
an Indian rode up close behind and was in the act of cleav- 
ing Ross' head, when Woolf oik came to his uncle's rescue and 
quickly dealt a blow that tumbled the savage from his pony, 
at the same time pulling Woolf oik off his horse. A personal 
combat between the two was prevented by the Indian mount- 
ing behind Big Foot. The two Indians dashed off and at- 
tempted to escape, but they were again hotly pursued by 
Ross and his nephew. TJie race was an exciting one. On 
went Big Foot and his companion, whom the mare bore along 



384 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



swift as the wind. Suddenly they came to a ravine bluff. 
They saw it too late to stop the animal in her flight, and 
headlong over the bluff went the mare and iher two riders. 
They were soon floundering in the mire and water. Quickly 
the pursuers dashed up — Woolfolk in the lead, himself dash- 
ing down the declivity, alighting between the two savages. 
Ross managed to •halt on the brink. He sprang from his 
mare and jumped down and into the melee, his first inten- 
tion being to separate the two Indians and prevent them 
from "double teaming 7 ' on his nephew. The four combat- 
ants were now on the ground and on an equal f ooting, and 
now it was that the desperate death struggle commenced. 
Big Foot and Captain Ross regarded each other for an in- 
stant. Both knew it w^as death for one or the other. Fire 
flashed from their eyes. Desperation was depicted on their 
countenances. They drew their knives — bright, keen butcher 
blades, which a hunter always carried. Both wore moccasins, 
while the Comanche chief was bedecked in full Avar paint, 
his long plaited thair hanging far down his back— he was in- 
deed ferocious looking. Captain Ross wore a slouch hat 
and buckskin hunting shirt, with an old fashioned powder 
horn slung around his waist. With a wild, guttural shout 
the chief advanced, knife in hand, and made a determined 
lunge at his powerful white antagonist. The Indian's foot 
slipped on the wet sod and he missed Ross. Before he could 
rise, Ross seized Big Foot by the thair wth his left hand, 
while with his right he brandished and drove hisf knife to 
the heart of the Indian chief. The contest was over ; the 
spirit of the renowned Chief Big Foot winged its way to the 
''happy hunting grounds." Both combatants sa*nk to the 
ground — Big Foot in death, Ross unnerved and exhausted. 
While this was transpiring, Woolfolk was engaging the oth- 
er Indian in a similar strugle, and finally succeeded in dis- 
patching him. After scalping their victims the settlers re- 
turned to their homes with the trophies, and the stolen 
horses recovered. 

Captain Ross lived to a ripe age, dying at Waco, a few- 
years ago. He experienced nrany of the trials and vicissi- 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 385 

tu&es incident to frontier life, and participated in numerous 
Indian fights, nut this was his most desperate enciofunter, 
and when narrating 1 the incident the old veteran always 
grew serious. It was a life and death struggle, and (his call 
was so close the never jested over the matter. 



FATE OF THE GILLELAND FAMILY — CAPTURE AND 
RESCUE OF MRS. FISHER. 

The narrative which follows is one of the most instruct- 
ive, yet pathetic, in all our Texas history, not only 
because it is .the story of t/wo helpless children, made or- 
phans by Comanches, the most cruel and bloodthirsty of all 
the Indian tribes, and) who were dragging them to a captivi- 
ty worse than the fate their parents had just suffered at 
their hands, but, because the story in its simple, unvar- 
nished recital throws upon the ,great white, peaceful -canvas 
of today, ai faithful picture of the hardsMps and! dangers! of 
our early pioneers in their efforts to establish homes and 
civilization in Western Texas. Be it remembered, too, that 
this tragedy was enacted six years after peace had been won 
at San Jacinto. 

We quote from a letter written by A. B. Hannum, First 
Lieutenant Matagorda Riflemen): 

"In 1841-42 the Mexican Government sent several ma- 
rauding expeditions into Texas, and in the latter year San 
Antonio was twice captured' and plundered. In the spring 
of 1842 wei were in force on the San Antonio River to repel 
a Mexican invasion, when news came to us that the Indians 
had killed a Mr. Gilleliand and his wif e at or near the Mex- 
ican village, Don Carlos Ranch. After the massacre they ev- 
idently moved up the river, holding two little white chil- 
dren prisoners. 

"Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, then in command of the 
military, and in camp near the scene of the tragedy, called 
for ten men, well mounted, to reconnoiter. With' Gen- 
eral Johnston we proceeded about one mile below 
the town, where I found and pointed out to\ him 



386 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



an Indian trail leading' into the river bottom. Here, after dis- 
mounting and making coffee, Gen. Johnston returned to the 
command, leaving me in charge of half a dozen men and fif- 
teen scouts under Captain Price, who had' joined us. We 
soon discovered the trail of the Indians and were in hot 
pursuit. Tlhere were Dr. A. T. Axsom, distinguished after- 
wards as president of the Board of Health of New Orleans; 
Colonel Kerr, purser -of the Texas navy; Dallam, author of 
the Digest of Texas Statutes, still an authority, also* author 
of the novel, 'The Lone Star.' 

"Two miles &way in camp were our noble ex-President, 
M. B. Lamar, and the hero of Shiloh, Albert Sidney John- 
ston, and not far from the site of Fannin's massacre. 

"The Comanches scattered and our yelling men followed, 
making it impossible for them to escape. After clearing the 
timber, they formed in line to receive us, while a tall old 
chief ran up and down the line playing the flute. They had 
evidently counted us and intended to give battle. 

"Firing commenced when a gay Indian on a finely ca- 
parisoned horse presented too fair a picture to be resisted, 
and I fired at himi; he dropped from the horse, one he had 
captured the day before, and and all took to the woods. We 
fastened our horses to the trees and pursued, thinking to 
give them fight in regular Indian fashion, but they never 
rallied, and left guns, feathers, shields and horses behind. We 
rescued the prisoners, a little boy, lanced) in the side, and a 
pretty little girl with 1 long, golden curls and eyes so- soft, so 
mystic; she was one of the politest little things on earth. 
The little boy, bleeding at every gasp, was given water. Dr. 
Axsom lay pale on the ground. 'What is the matter, Ax- 
som ?' 'Oh, that child's wound makes me sick.' The 
case of the healing' of the wound of that little boy, William 
M. Gilleland, was published in the New Orleans Medical 
Journal by Dr. Axsom. 

"The little girl wafe, when I saw her in 1886, one of the 
handsomest of the very handsome women for which Tex<as 
is justly distinguished, and* she, Mrs. Rebecca J. Fisher, a 
veritable queen of society. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



387 



' ' The Gilleland children were taken just as the sum -was 
setting, and were rescued the next morning, the Indians trav- 
eling all the time until overtaken by the riflemen. 

"General Johnston was in command, and carried Rebecca 
the little girl, from the Carlos Ranch to the home of a Pres- 
byterian minister, Dr. Blain, in Victoria. The (boy was left 
behind under Dr. Axisom's nursing and my directions. " 



STORY OF THE HEROINE. 

Mrs. Fisher, wftio nere tells her terrible experience, is 
at present (1912) living in Austin. Her story further illus- 
trates the dangers of fnontier life in early Texas: 

"My parents, Johnstone and Mary Barbour Gilleland, 
were living in Pennsylvaina, surrounded with everything to 
make life pleasant, When they became so enthusiastic over 
the encouraging reports/ from Texas that they concluded to 
join the excited throng and wend their way to this, the sup- 
posed 'Eldorado of the West.' They hastily and at great 
sacrifice, sold their home near Philadelphia, and set sail 
for Galveston with their three children. Not being used to 
the hardships and privations of frontier life, they were $1 
prepared for the trials wdxich awaited them. I know not the 
date of their arrival. They moved to Refugio county, 
near Don Carlos Ranch, which proved to be their last 
earthly habitation. 

"My father belonged to Captain Tomlinson's company 
for some months, and when not in active warfare was 
engaged in protecting bis own and other familes, removing 
tnem from place to place for safety. They frequently had' to 
flee through Minding storms, cold and hungry, to escape In- 
dians and Mexicans. The whole country was in a state of 
excitement. Families were in constant danger and had to 
be ready at any moment to flee for their lives. 

"The day my parents 1 were murdered was one of those 
days which youth and odd age so much enjoy. It was in 
atrange constrast to tlfoe tragedy at its close. We were only 
a sfiew rods from the house. Suddenly the warwhoop of the 



388 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Comanche buret upon our ears, seodHjhg terror to all hearts. 
My father, in trying to reach the house for weapons, was 
shot down, <and near him my mother, clinging to\ her child- 
ren and praying for God to spare them, was also murdered. 
As she pressed us to her heart we were baptized in hex pre- 
cious blood. We were torn frotm her dying embrace and 
hurried off into captivity, the chief's wife dragging me to 
her horse and clinging to me with a tenacious grip. She 
was at first savage and vicious looking, but for some cause 
her wicked nature soon relaxed, and folidlinig me in ber arms, 
she gently smoothed! back my hair, indicating that she was 
very proud of her suffering victim. A white man, with all 
the cruel instincts of the savage, was with them. Several 
times they threatened to cut offf our hands and feet if we 
did not stop crying. Then the woman, in savage tones and 
gestures would scold, and they would cease their cruel 
threats. We were captured just as the sun was setting arid 
were rescued the next morning. 

"During the few hours we were prisoners the Indians 
never stopped. Slowly and stealthily they pushed their way 
through the settlement to avoid detection, and just as they 
halted for the first time the soldiers suddenly came upon 
them and firing commenced. As the battle raged the Indi- 
ans 'were forced' to take flight. Thereupon, they pierced my 
little brother through the body, and striking me with some 
sharp instrument on the side of the head, they left us for 
dead, but we soon recovered sufficiently to find ourselves 
alone in the dark, dense forest, wounded and covered with 
blood. 

"Having been taught to ask God for all things, we prayed 
to our Heavenly Father to take care of us and direct us out 
of that lonely place. I lifted my wounded brother, so faint 
and sio weak, and we soon came to the edge of a large 
prairie, when as far away as our swimming eyes could see, we 
discovered a company of horsemen. Supposing them to be 
Indians, frightened beyond expression, and trembling under 
my heavy burden, I rushed back with him into the woods, 
and hid behind some thick bushes. But those brave men, on 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



389 



the alert, dashing from place to place, at last discovered vm. 
Soon we heard the clatter of noises ' hoofs and the voicea of 
our rescuers calling us tby name, assuring us that they were 
our friends who had come to take care of us. Lifting the 
almost unconscious little suffetrer, I carried hkn out to/ them 
as best I could. With all the tenderness of women, their 
eyes suffused with tears, those good men raised us to their 
saddles and hurried off to camp, where we received every 
attention and kindness that man could 1 bestow. 

4 'I was seven years of age when my parents were mur- 
dered. Sixty odd years have passed. 1 since then, and yet my 
heart grows faint as the awful time passes in review. It is 
indelibly stamped upon memory's page and photographed 
so deeply upon my heart that time with all its changes can 
never erase it." 



LAST RAID INTO ANDERSON COUNTY. 

In the year 1843, a party of Indians, about ten in num- 
her, {made their last hostile raid in the territory embracing 
what is now Anderson county. "We called it Burnet county 
at that time," says pioneer C.apt. ?m. R. RusseTl of Har- 
per, Texas, who supplies these facts: 

"In the neighborhood where my father and family lived, 
near Mound Prairie, they stole some horses and killed and 
butchered a very fat ox, belonging to David Roberts. Tak- 
ing the greater part of the flesh oifl the ox, they left in a 
w°stward direction. My father, Col. Lewis M. Russell, head- 
ed a party of citizeus and followed them. They crossed the 
Trinity River, and on the bank of the rivelr iom the west side, 
the Indians stopped and pulled off the shoes from the 
horses and cut notches in the front of the horses' feet, so 
that they would make a track resembling the track of a buf- 
falo. The Indians moved on westward about two miles, and 
stopped to barbecue their beef. The scouts sighted the In- 
dians at the head of a ravine that led into the river, the 
ravine being completely enveloped with a l5hick jungle of 
brush, briers and vines. The scouts charged on them, but the 



390 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Indians made good thteir escape down the ravine. The scouts 
captured all their horses and returned home without firing 
again. " 



CAPTURE OP THE SIMPSON CHILDREN. 

A widow named Simpson lived at Austin. Among other 
children she had a girl, Emma, aged about/ fourteen years, 
and a boy, Thomas, about twelve years of age. During the 
summer of 1844, about 4 o'clock one afternoon, tHiese child- 
ren went to drive up the cows., They were on the dry 
branch, near where: Maj. C. L. West's residence now stands, 
when their mother heard them scream. She required no ex- 
planation of the cause ; she knew at once that the Indians 
had captured her darlings. Sorrowing, and almost heart'-bro- 
ken, she rushed to the more thickly settled part of the town 
to implore citizens to turn out and endeavor to recover her 
children. A party of men wer e soon in the saddle and on the 
trail. 

They discovered that the savages were on foot — four in 
number — 'and were moving in the timber, parallel to the riv- 
er and up it. They found on the trail shreds of the girl's 
dress, yet it was difficult to follow the footsteps of the 
fleeing red men. From a hill they descried the Indians 
just before (they entered the ravine below Mount Bonnell. 
?The whites movted at la run, but they failed to overtake the 
barbarians. A piece of an undergarment was certain evi- 
dence that the captors had passed over Mount Barker. The 
rocky surface of the ground precluded the possibility of fast 
trailing, :and almost the possibility of trailing at all. Every 
conceivable effort was made to track tine Indians, and all 
proved unavailing. They were loath to return to Austin to 
inform the grief-stricken mother her loved ones were indeed 
the prisoners of savages, and would be subject to all the 
brutal cruelties and outrages of a captivity a thousand times 
more terrible than the pangs of death. The scene which en- 
sued when the dread news reached M3rs. Simpson's ears can 
not be pictured with pen or pencil Ko science, nor art, 



BOEDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



301 



nor device known to man could compass such an undertak- 
ing. The wail o'f faigony> and despair rent the air, and tears 
of sympathy were wrung- from the frontiersmen who never 
quailed wlhen danger came in its most fearful form. 

In about one year Thomas Simpson was restored to his 
mother. He had been purchased from the Indians by a 
trader at Taos, New Mexico. From him many particulars of 
the 'capture were obtained. He said his sister f ought the In- 
dians all the time. They carried her by force, dragging 
her frequently, tore her clothing and handled her roughly. 
Thomas was led by two Indians. He offered no resistance, 
knowing he would be killed if (he did. 

"When the Indians discovered they we)re being followed, 
they doubled, coming back rather in t(he direction of Austin. 
They made a shoirt halt mot far firom Ho,n., Jiohn Hancock's 
place. Thomas begged his sister not to resist, and. told her 
such a course would cause her to be putf to deiath. She was 
eventually separated from him. When the Indians who had 
her in charge rejoined their companions, young Simpson saw 
his sister's scalp dangling from a warrior's belt. No one will 
ever know the details of the bloody deied. But a knowledge 
of Indian customs justifies line belief that the sacrifice of an 
innocent life involved incidents of a more revolting character 
than mere murder. In the course of time the bones of the 
unfortunate gir'l were found near the place where Mr. George 
Davis erected his [residence, and to that extent corroborat- 
ed the account of Thomas Simpson. 

It is no difficult matter to conceive what were the im- 
pressions produced upon parents then living in Austin by 
this event. It is easy t<o imagine how vivid the conviction 
must have been that their sons and daugMers might become 
the victims of similar misfortunes, sufferings and outrages. 
Let the reader extend the idea, and include the whole fron- 
tier of Texas in a scope extending, as it then did, from Red 
River to the Rio Grande, (ai sinuous line upon the outer tiers 
of settlements, and including a large extent of the Gulf 
coast. Let him remember tftrat the country was then so 
sparoe'ly populated it was quite all frontier, and open 1fo in- 



392 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



cursions of the merciless tribes who made war upon women 
and children, land flourished the tomahawk and the scalp- 
ing knife in the bedrooms and the boudoirs, as well as in the 
forests, and upon the bosom of the= prairie. When he shall 
have done this, <he clan form an approximate conception of 
thie privations and perils endured by the pioneers who re- 
claimed Texas from, the dominion of the Indian, and made it 
the abode of civilized men. 



BRUTAL MURDER OF CAPT. KEMPER AND PERILOUS 
ESCAPE OF HIS FAMILY. 

The reader has already learned in the opening chapiters 
of this work, much of the troubles of the early settlers witfoi 
the ferocious tribe of Caranehua Indians, and of Iheir final 
expulsion and fate. The last notable hostile act of this tribe 
was the murder of Capt. John Frederick Kemper, at his 
ranch home, " Kemper's Bluff,' ' on the Guadalupe River, 
in Victoria county.. This hardy pioneer was a native of 
Kentucky, but came from Tennessee to Texas in 1836, 
having been previously united in marriage to Miss Eliza 
Miller, daughter of Ool. Miller, who brought volunteers 
to the Texas army three separate tfanes — the first as early 
as the year 1835. Capti Kemper was in command of an artil- 
lery company in Colonel Miller's regiment. The command 
was made prisoners of war at Copano, immediately after Fan- 
nin's disastrous battle of the Qalito; were seipiairalted' and 
spared from the inhuman massacre perpetrated a few days 
afterwards. 

Captain Kemper settled at Kemper's Bluff in 1845. 
At the time of his death tthe family consisted of himself, wife 
and two children, Amanda Jane, aged three years, and 
James, aged five months. Mrs. Miller was also present on a 
visit with her daughter. 

The killing of Capt. Kemper by the Caranchuas oc- 
curred in November, 1845. About/ 3 o'clock in the afternoon 
the milch cows were seen running to the pen, pursued by a 
party of Indians. Capflain Kefmper, gun in hand, stepped 



BORDER WARS OP TEXAS. 



393 



outside the house and motioned them to desist*; their only 
reply was a volley of arrows, one of which took effect, 
striking tjhe captain in the shoulder, back of the collar bone 
and passing out* beneatih the shoulder blade. He re-entered 
the house, Mrs. Miller pulling the arrow out of the wound, 
and expired in a few minutes. The Indians came about the 
house, not venturing, however?, in front of the only door. 
Mrs, Kemper fired a gun at them once through a crack be- 
tween tlhe logs, but was ignorant as to. the effect of the dis- 
charge. About dark the red devils procured a quantity of 
dry moss, which they placed under the floor and fired. Mrs. 
Kemper raised a plank and Mrs. Miller extinguished the 
flames by pouring on them a pail of water. They then left 
the house, and with the timber for a guide, proceeded to the 
residence of Mr. Alonzo Bass, on tfhe Calito, about twelve 
miles distant, arriving at 3 o 'clock in the morning. Their 
mournful flight was through a dark, rainy nightl — and later 
accompanied by a fierce norther. The party that went down 
the next day to inter the remains of Capt. Kemper, found 
the house robbed of all articles esteemed of value by the sav- 
ages. Feather beds were emptiied of their contents and the 
crockery was all broken. Upon their departure, i\he fiends 
laid a brand of fire upon the breast of their victim, the sig- 
nificance of which is left t)o the elucidation of those more 
conversant with the lore of the aborigines. 

The venerable Colonel Miller died at Victoria, Feb. 16, 
1862. Mrs. Kemper resided but a short time at Kemper's 
Bluff aftler her husband's death. Amanda J. was married to 
Mr. David F. Williams in Victoria, Nov. 4, 1868. 



THE LATER COLONIES AND FRONTIER EXPANSION. 

Elsewhere we have briefly noticed the early colony 
grants tlo Austin, Edwards, DeWitt, Robertson, and others, 
which were in force and building during the period of Mex- 
ican domination over American Texas — 1822 to 1836. The 
promotion and carrying out of these contacts by the en- 
terprising empresarios, of course, resulted in the more rapid 



394 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



settlement of the country and the expansion of? its fron- 
tiers. 

After the revolution and the establishment of independ- 
ence, quite -a Hide of 'emigration flawed into tlhe new and 
famed Lone Star Republic, and many daring and adventurous 
spirits drifted in, and fearlessly abode at! San Antonio, Cor- 
pus Christi, and at other points along the exposed frontier— 
along and up the Colorado and the Brazos, and even to Red 
River on the fearfully exposed northern boundary. But 
during the first half of the Republic's ten years existence no 
regular colony contracts of any consequence were made. 
On Feb. 4, 1841, however, an act was passed authorizing tne 
President to. enlteir into contracts for the colonization of 
wild lands in Northwest and Southwest Texas — tlhe act be- 
ing amended, with more liberal and encouraging conditions, 
on Jan. 1, 1843. 

Under this law, as originally enacted, President Lamar, 
on Aug. 30, 1841, entiered into the contract for wihat became 
known as the famous Pettier 's Colony, in North Texas. The 
east line of this grant ran from the mouth of Big Mineral 
Creek, in Grayson county, due south, passing about ten miles 
east of Dallas, to a point in the eastern part of Ellis coun- 
ty, and thence west and north to Red River, embracing a 
large district of the best lands in Ncxrtn Texas.. " Begin- 
ning in 1842, ' ' says Jo(hn Henry Brown, ' ' it) was rapidly set- 
tled, chiefly by farmers from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, 
Kentucky, 'Tennessee, and other states. It has developed in 
the fifty years, (Brown wrote twenty years ago. 'The in- 
crease in population and strides of progress during tlhis pe- 
riod has been even greater than 1 the preceding half centu- 
ry), despite bloody Indian wars, the Civil War and the ca- 
lamities following, into the wealthiest and most populous 
portion of the State, in wnich are comprehended the whole 
or large parts of the counties of Grayson, Collin, Dallas, 
Cooke, Montague, Wise, Parker and several others on the 
west." 

The Iniducememt offered! to settlers in this colony was 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



395 



a headright of 640 acres to the heacjjd of families, and 3.20 
acres to each single man — ftChe company receiving its pay in 
liberal premium lands lying further west. In the sequel to 
this volume — " Texas Frontier History" — the trials endured 
and the dangers encountered and combatted by these brave 
settlers in defense of (their honues, as well as the similar 
troubles of colonists in other of the later settlements, along 
the expanding frontier, will be fully noted. 

The Mercer Colony, attempted about this time — the 
grant covering the territory now embraced in Kaufman 
and some adjoining counties — was not at first successful. 
But the enterprise at least served to augment the Peters set- 
tlements, where most of Mercer's colonists re-settled. 

About the time that the Peters Colony was gotten un- 
der headway, another important, and finally prosperous, 
settlement, known as the Castro Colony, was commenced in 
the southwestern part of the Republic. Henri de Castro 
was a wealthy, highly enlightened and noble Frenchman. 
On January 15, 1842, he contracted with President Houston 
for (settling a colony of his countrymen and others in the 
fertile praties west of the Medina River. At grelat expense 
— more than $150,000 — for ship transportation (at different 
times and in all, 37 ships were chartered) and conveyance 
overland, Castro brought over and settled during the period 
of his eight years eionjftract, over 5,000 immigrants, " farm- 
ers, orchardists, and vine-growers, chiefly from the Rhenish 
provinces." Tlhese people he sustained and fed at his own 
expense till they could prepare homes and lands and raise 
food crops, and get a foothold in the new country, whither 
they had so confidently followed their benefactor and noble 
leader; and whose prototype is found only in his predeces- 
sor, the great empresario, Austin. Space prevents a narra- 
tion of the troubles of these colonists during the first years 
— harassed, as they were, by both Indians and Mexicans 
— and but for the constant vigfilance of* Capt. Jack Hays 
and his brave rangjers, who so faithfully patrolled that ex- 
posed section, they must have failed and perished. 



396 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



Speaking of Hays and his rangers during! this period, the 
noble old Franco- Texan empresario, Henry Castro, says : 

"T» take thjis occasion to do justice toi Captain Jack 
Hays and his noble company. They were equal to any emer- 
gency, but such a company can, in my opinion, only be com- 
pared to the old Musketeers of Louis XIV, who represented 
the chivalrous gentleman soldiers of Prance. Hays and his 
men represented the true and chivalrous, disinterested Amer- 
ican 'gentleman, soldi eft*, who 1 at all times was reacty to shed 
the last drop of his blood for his country and the protection 
of the feeble." 

At every opportunity the Indians harassed these ex- 
posed colonists, and from the time they set foot on land 
and began their journey overland, and mostly afoot, to their 
wild prairie homes, they were beset with dangers. "In the 
rear of one of their first emigrating parties, the Indians 
forty miles below San Antonio, attacked and burned a wag- 
on. The driver, an American, rifle in hand, reached a thick- 
et, and killed several of thte Indians; but they killed a boy 
of nineteen — a Frenchman — and cutting! off his head, nafred 
it to ta tree. In the buirnt wagon was a trunk containing a 
considerable amount of gojld and silver. In the ashes the sil- 
ver was found melted, the gold only blackened. ■ '* 

The fio.und.ing and sustain ng of the Castro Colony in 
that remote and exposed section was indeed a bold sftjep. 
John Henry Brown says: "He confronted dangers unknown 
to the first American colonists in 16(22, for besides hostile 
savages, now accustomed to the use of firearms, it challenged 
inroads from the whole Rio Grande Mexican frontier, which 
in 1822, furnished friends and not enemies to foreign settle- 
ments in Texas. 

An interesting volume could be written descriptive of 
the efforts of Henry Castro to settle his colony, then ex- 
posed to the attacks of bandit and guerilla Mexicans, but a 
li'ltl'e 1to its west, and to all the hostile Indians north and 
west of his proposed settlement. It was an achievement 



♦ Brown's History of Texas. 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



397 



t.ntiitling the name of Castro to be enrolled among- the most 
prominent pioneers of civilization in modern times. Yet 
the youth of today, joyously and peacefulfly galloping over 
the beautiful hills and valleys ;he rescued from savagery, 
are largely ignorant of his great services. 



The contract entered into by President Houston with 
Fisher and Miller, for what beciame known as the German 
Colony, and which grant covered the beautifull mountain 
sections drained by the Perdenales, Llano, San Saba and 
tjb'e lower Conchos, after passing to the management/ of 
"The German Immigration Company," also proved success- 
ful — though perhaps fraught with more dangers and tribula- 
tions tjhan that or any other of the later colony enterprises. 

A large number of industrious settlers were introduced 
between 1844 and 1848, who followed the pursuits of stock 
raising and farming, and eventuajlly triumphed over the hos- 
tile savages who domiciled, as it were, in their very midst, 
infesting every valley and mountain. But the fierce con- 
flicts of these brave German pioneers hardly come within 
rthe period of time alloted to this volume. 

Thus was the spirit of emiigtra(tliiom again set in motion, 
amd contiued, wth inietnetajslirug volume and energy. 



THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS IS NO MORE. 

And now we have arrived at that period in Texas histo- 
ry which marks the c'lose of the Lone Star Republic, and 
with it we shall conclude the present compendium of bor- 
der annals, having closely followed the doings of the brave 
pioneers from the day of their first advent under Austin; 
during the uncertain colonial period and on down through 
the dark years of the Republic, constantly struggling for 
an existence, and fighting the common foes, both Indians 
and Mexicans, till they finally triumphed, and won a great 
state to American civilization, commerce and education. Of 
the further affairs of Texas as a State land of her contin- 
ued struggle with the red men for mastery and frontier ex- 



398 BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



pansion, the reader will be told in a second volume, under 
the title— "Terns Frontier History." 

Of the fortunes of the Lone Star Republic, it may be 
said that for nearly ten years it proudly claimed an exist- 
ence, and struggled forward in financial straits and under 
all sorts of most adverse circumstances, as one of the inde- 
pendent nations of the world. Nothing but the wise and 
careful councilings of her statesmen, chief among whom 
was the great Sam Houston, and the determined valor of pa- 
triotic and fearless defenders in the mighty contest all 
along her extended and exposed borders, saved and upheld 
the young nation — a feat that astonished mankind, and is 
well reckoned as one of the anomalies .of the world 's {histo- 
ry. A vast empire reclaimed from a wilderness of savagery, 
and! wrested from a grasping and populous nation ; and then 
held against both Mexican and Indian claimants. All this, 
too, by a mere handful of fearless pioneers — that bold litfte 
body of buckskin-clad and poorly fed border troopers and 
dashing ranigers, in their constant strife and bold, wonderful 
exploits* — the like of which the world has never before or 
since wtoeissed. 

The history of every state in the American Union is 
tinged with the life's blood of |their early settlers! and pio- 
neers in their struggles for possession over and against the 
red men. In no land or country was tftiis strife waged with 
more bitterness) and cruelty, and bloodthirsty stubborn- 
ness than in our own Texas ; beginning, as it did, in the open 
ing chapter of its pioneer history, and carried on with re- 
lentless and determined fury, as it was, for more than half a 
century — ending only in recent times. 

Referring to internal affairs and the condition of Tex- 
as with regard to her Indian foes at the time of annexa- 
iton, land her ability to> cope with this foe, Garrison ("Tex- 
as," p. 271 j 2) says: "It was possible for the United States 
to protect' the Stiate from invasion, but Texas had an enemy 
that was practically witfhin, her gaies, with whom itf was 
mudth more difficult to deal. This was the Indian. The 
tribes inslide the limits of the State on tfoe) north made fre- 
quent raids into the country soutih. otf Red River and were 



BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 



399 



very troublesome* Of course, the most annoying Indians, 
now as of old, were the Comanches, along the western] fron- 
tier, who liked especially to kill and scalp Mexicans, but 
were willing on occasion' to accept a Texas victim. 'The in- 
terior was protected with tolerable effectiveness from their 
ravages by the advance line off settlements, yet at n,o littde 
cost to the settlers themselves., They were the brave 
hand with which the deadly blows of savagery must be re- 
ceived and warded oftf. The State employed its ranger 
force to good advantage, but it was difficult to prevent or 
anticipate an Indian, raid, and the line of exposure was sev- 
eral hundred miles in length. ' ' / 

The circumstances invited the application of the system 
ojf colonizing the Indians on reservations, and in 1855, the 
State having set apart the necessary lands, most of the Tex- 
as tribes were induced to locate on reservations under the 
protection and.supervision of agents — one on the upper Braz- 
os and one on its tributary known ate Slalt F'oa'k. 

In regard to affairs and conditions of the Republic dur- 
ing the adminstraton of President Anson Jones — Dec. 9th, 
1844, to! Feb. 19tb, 184&— Hisitorrijan Woo ton says: " During 
ttfiat period there was but one Congress, the Ninth, which 
met in regular session the first Monday in December, 1844, 
and adjourned February 3, 1845, and again convened in spe- 
cial session on June 16, which continued until June 24. 
Aside from the usual legislation necessiary to perfect the 
laws and run the government, tjhere was noi incident oif spe- 
cial importance in the acts of the Ninth Congress. The 
country was at peace, both at home and abroad; the popu- 
lation was rapidly increasing, there was the prospect oif ear- 
ly annexation, 'to the kindred jstates of the north, and tihe 
finances were so improved that the Republic's paper was at 
par, while there was a cash balance in t)he treasury suffi- 
cient to operate the government for two years without a dol- 
lar oif additional receipts." 

The destiny of the giant Republic of tyhe Lone Star was 
foreordained, as it were, however, and its people earnestly 
sought union with the land of freedolm — preferring the flow- 
er of statehood to! the pompous-sounding title of republic. 



DEC 3 1912 



400} BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. 

The bill introduced for the annexation of Texas to the Unifr 
ed States, having received the approval of tthe House of 
Representatives, February 25, and a favorable majority vote 
having obtained on March 1, 1845, the measure was signed 
i — being one iOf the very last official acts of President John 
Tykir — and Feb. 19, 1846, Texas became a; State. 

The dream of the Austins had comle to pass ;> Sam Hous- 
ton had realized his far-planned hopes and won immortal 
fame; the matchless pioneers had triumphed; a vast domain 
had been established in the far and wild southwest; its po- 
sition well defined and ably maintained, till voluntarily sur- 
rendered and added to the galaxy of statles — to continue in 
growth, progress and grandeur, forever most resplendent. 
Tlhie deed was one of great in om en f, anjd it thrills, as one 
reflects — stands in vivid imagination with the vast 
throng assembled oni that mern'o-nable locciasion, listening to 
the silvery ringing and swelling oratory of Anson Jones, 
the out-going and last President wf tlbe Republic lof 1 Texas, * 
as he delivered) his valeidieJkory, concluding with the signifi- 
cant but solemn utterance: "The final act in the great 
drama is now performed. The Republic of Texas is no 
more." 



THE END. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS # 



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